A soldier remembered, a family still held close

Among Maimunah Kaus’s cherished photographs is one taken at her wedding to Othman Ismail in August 1967. Another brings together three generations of her family: her husband wearing his medals, their son Ahmad Azani, and their grandson Yusof Ahmad Azani, a Royal Malaysian Navy lieutenant.

To the nation, Othman was a decorated soldier who served through years of the communist insurgency. To Maimunah, he was the caring companion with whom she raised three daughters and two sons.

“He was a very caring family man who nurtured his children to become successful model citizens,” she said.

Othman, a retired staff sergeant and recipient of the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) award, died of heart complications at his Taman Kolam Air home on Sept 7. He was 82 and had experienced declining health in recent years.

His death recently brought fellow veterans to the family’s side. Members of the SP/PGB/PTU Club, which brings together military recipients of three gallantry awards, pooled their contributions to offer Maimunah some support.

Club president Hanafiah Ali, a retired major, and patron Abdul Rahim Abdul Rahman, a retired brigadier-general, visited her home to present RM2,000. Both men, themselves PGB recipients, are 79.

Joining them were Hanafiah’s wife Zawiyah Othman and daughter Diana Farhana, along with Othman’s son Abdul Aziz, and granddaughters Nur Anis Natasha and Nur Ayu Amira.

The visit was part of the club’s commitment to remain present in the lives of its members and their families. “We will keep tabs on her wellbeing, just as we do for the living warrior members of our club,” Rahim said.

In one of his last interviews, Othman recalled joining the army on May 20, 1965. He served with the Royal Malay Regiment until his retirement in 1987, having chosen a military career partly because of the fear and disruption his family and friends had experienced during the insurgency.

“I had decided after school that I wanted to do my part for the nation to eradicate the insurgency threat,” he said.

His service included the Second Emergency from 1968 to 1989. Of the operations in which he took part, one encounter in Pahang remained particularly vivid.

In October 1974, Othman was a corporal leading a small team during Ops Indera IV at the Samling rubber plantation near Sungai Ruai in Raub. They were returning to their post when they encountered insurgents at sunset.

“I was leading my small team as a corporal then. On the way back to our post after conducting counter-insurgency operations, we stumbled upon several insurgents who fired at us,” he recalled.

The four soldiers exchanged fire. Othman shot an insurgent who was attempting to throw a hand grenade at his team, before his company commander arrived with reinforcements.

“We secured the area overnight and recovered the insurgents’ bodies the next day to be brought to our main post,” he added.

Othman’s actions led to a recommendation for the PGB, the country’s second-highest gallantry award after the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP).

Looking back, Othman also spoke about the everyday demands of service: loyalty, discipline, following instructions, and doing one’s best.

“There was no tolerance for indiscipline and insubordination,” he said. “It inculcated in me a sense of patriotism and to appreciate the freedom and peace we enjoy today.”

Memories across generations

At home, Maimunah remembers a devoted husband and father whose concern for his children continued long after his military career ended. She now lives with Abdul Aziz, 56, a security guard at Jasin Hospital.

The family portrait of Othman with his son and grandson was Ahmad Azani’s idea. A lecturer at UiTM Shah Alam, he had arranged for his father to be photographed in his medal-decked jacket alongside himself and Yusof in naval uniform.

For Maimunah, it is a treasured image of the family they built together. Beside the wedding photograph, it records how much changed over nearly six decades of marriage.

According to the veterans’ club, 32 members survive from its roll of 107 military recipients of the SP, PGB and Pingat Tentera Udara awards.

Rahim said Othman’s RM1,500 monthly PGB allowance would cease following his death, although Maimunah would be eligible for a RM1,300 monthly derivative pension and benefits including healthcare.

He expressed hope that the club’s donation would help ease her financial burden.

For the family, Othman’s medals and photographs preserve different sides of the man they loved, while his comrades’ promise to keep looking out for Maimunah offers another form of remembrance – one marked by visits, contributions and kindness.

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