IN his 30-year career as a police officer, Feb 23, 1950 is a day that will forever be etched in Tan Sri J. J. Raj’s memory.
It was the night when communist terrorists attacked the Bukit Kepong police station in Johor, killing 23 officers and men in a three-hour shootout.
Raj, then aged 29, was the police chief of the nearby Pagoh district.
“I had mixed feelings of extreme anger and profound sadness,” he recounted, days after celebrating his 100th birthday at his home in Damansara Kim, Petaling Jaya, recently.
The centenarian said he had always wanted to be in the police force. “For me, it meant being of service to the community,” he told theSun.
Raj said when the Second World War ended in 1945, his father died and he was living in Jelutong, Penang, with his mother and elder brother.
“My brother, the late Datuk J. J. Raj Sr was also a police officer and he encouraged me to join the force,” he said. Raj followed his brother’s footsteps and became a probationary inspector in 1946.
Being brothers and serving in the force together, Raj eventually was known as Raj Jr, being the younger of the two who shared the same initials and last name.
Both rose from the ranks, with Raj Sr retiring as director of the criminal investigation department and Raj Jr as director of management.
Recounting the night of the Bukit Kepong attack, Raj said he had visited the station for an inspection and security briefing that morning and left
at about 7pm.
With the communist insurgency still a major threat, Raj patrolled the village, accompanied by village chief Ali Mustapha and Sgt Jamil Mohd Shah, who was portrayed by actor-cum-director Jins Shamsuddin in the 1981 film depiction of the incident.
When he left that night, Raj assigned 10 Jungle Squad constables to beef up the defence. At about 4.30am the following day, the terrorists struck.
“Upon receiving the news, I rushed to Bukit Kepong with the Tiger Squad. The only way was by boat but when we arrived at the jetty, we found that our boat had been burned. We ended up traversing the jungle and swamp for three hours to reach the police station,” he added.
Raj said by the time he arrived, the building was in flames, and bodies were strewn around the grounds of the station. “Wives and children were wailing over their lost ones,” he said.
“I felt extreme anger and profound sadness that day, but I had to put my emotions aside and immediately diverted the attention of my team to relief efforts and rescue work.
“We painstakingly located those severely wounded. One of the casualties was Jamil, whom he said had met a heroic end in the battle.”
Raj said emergency medical treatment was immediately administered to the wounded.
“We then carried them, one after another, to a small boat at the jetty to be sent to the
hospital in Muar. We managed to save a few lives that day.”
Upon retirement, Raj was appointed to the Federal Pardons Board, that reviews convicts’ appeals for release from prison.
He served under the Board for more
than 30 years, under eight kings and four prime ministers.
Raj pointed out that for a policeman, encountering dangerous situations and a heavy workload are all in a day’s work.
“Some may end up bringing the stress home, but I believe the key to managing stress is balance. I set manageable goals and get my priorities right.”
Raj said he would take care of more important tasks first. “At home, I was blessed to have Irene, and my children understood the pressures of police work and were supportive. I always chatted and joked with my children after work and that was always enjoyable,” he added.
His birthday celebration this year was a muted affair due to Covid-19, but Raj is grateful to have his family with him.
