Malaya's Largest Anti-Communist Movement in Tanjung Malim
Sungai Bernam serves as the border between Perak and Selangor. On the map, Ulu Bernam and Tanjung Malim share nearly identical coordinates.
On August 25, 1957, 2,000 residents of Tanjung Malim joined an anti-communist movement because the forests of Tanjung Malim, Sungai Bil, and the upper reaches of Sungai Bernam had become strongholds for communist terrorists. Tanjung Malim residents organized an anti-communist movement on August 25, 1957. This was the largest anti-communist movement ever held in Malaya.
This movement began early on the morning of August 25, 1957. Two thousand civilians entered the jungle to call upon the 5 remaining communist terrorists hiding within the Tanjung Malim forest area.
Aerial surveillance was also conducted using aircraft equipped with loudspeakers capable of being heard from up to 4 miles away. From the air, loud voices could be heard from a distance, ordering the communist terrorists to come out and surrender. This anti-communist operation lasted for 4 hours starting at 9:00 AM, and the jungle area entered by the 2,000 civilians spanned approximately 30,000 square yards.
Most of the civilians who participated in this movement were members of the Tanjung Malim Loyal Citizens Committee. As the civilians trekked through the forest, they were protected by soldiers from the 5th Battalion of the Malay Regiment, 13 units of the Federal Police Force, and the air force. Truly, this grassroots anti-communist movement on this day in 1957 represented a unified effort and cooperation from all parties to assist the government in eradicating communism.
