RNTC BUNGALOWS AT FRASER HILL

I was at a wedding reception last night and someone decided that the men sit around a table together, while our spouse sits together around a table of their own. We decided to sit separated from our spouses because we wanted some freedom to talk among ourselves, since most of us have not met one another for quite a while. I remembered someone telling me that there are three occasions where we meet old lost friends. First, is at a wedding reception. Second, is at a funeral of a friend and thirdly, at the Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). Indeed, I always had the occasion of meeting with a number of long lost friends on these three occasions.

Among the many things that we talked about was one that was related to the former British Armed Forces bungalows at Fraser Hills. I then recalled that I have stayed in one of the bungalows with my family on a brief holiday while I was in the service. I believe the bungalow is called ‘The Admiralty’. There is also another bungalow called ‘The Bishop’ and a group of buildings called the Royal Navy Training Center (RNTC). The Royal Navy here is in reference to the British Royal Navy.

Back in 1982, and as the Chief of Staff of HQ 4 Brigade located in Temerloh, Pahang, I recall having established a Tactical HQ at RNTC. We had to establish the HQ there to facilitate control over operations around the Fraser Hill area. Those were the days when the infamous Chong Chor and his groups were running wild in the state of Pahang.

Someone from among us raised the issue that back in the early 70’s, he and his entire intake, and including all Army officers at the time were debited a sum of RM5/- each month for a number of years, supposedly for the maintenance of the bungalows at Fraser Hill. He then questioned that since the bungalows were government owned, why were officers required to pay for its maintenance?

We then decided to do a simple calculation. Assuming that the number of army officers then were just 1000 and with RM5/- per officer per month, it will be RM5000/- per month. And if it was a year’s collection, it will amount to RM60,000/- and that is a phenomenal sum then. And if that number of officers were to include the Air Force and the Navy, then the collection would be many fold.

I just could not remember if I had made a similar monthly contribution, but I do remember that the bungalows were controlled by Army then. I am told that the bungalows are now controlled by the office of the KSU, and I do not know if those retirees of the Armed Forces are permitted to stay (for a fee) at the bungalows.

If indeed a collection was made for the maintenance of the aforesaid bungalows, then the questions that need to be asked are as follows:

1. Where and how was the collection kept and maintained?
2. What was the total collection?
3. How much was used for the maintenance of the bungalows?
4. Was the collection sanctioned by the government or otherwise?

I would like to seek responses from those who are privy to the above issue.


CRUSADE AGAINST CORRUPTION