The Final Words of a Tapah-Born Hero Who Fell in War
His name may be unfamiliar to our generation today, but once, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid was one of the nation's most remembered heroes in the 69 Commando of the Special Operations Force. Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid was born on August 15, 1937, in Tapah, Perak, and was the second child in his family.
Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid began his career as a police officer on March 1, 1963, holding the rank of Probationary Inspector. After completing training at PULAPOL Jalan Semarak, he was assigned to the Penang Contingent Police Headquarters on June 18, 1963. Later, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid was transferred to the Jungle Squad (PFF), known today as the General Operations Force, on March 29, 1965, as a Platoon Commander. In July 1970, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid was destined to join the newly formed 69 Commando unit, successfully completing the five-month selection process. Interestingly, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid was later appointed as the Chief Commando Instructor from April to August 1971 to train officers and personnel who had just joined this unit, known as the Third Platoon of the 69 Commando, and they were stationed at Kubu Legap, Perak. This national hero, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid, also participated in an operation known as Ops Jemput Tiga, conducted jointly with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) Special Branch and the special intelligence unit of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI-AD) in a mission to hunt and strike the North Kalimantan People's Guerrilla (PARAKU) Communists located on the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
The operation, which combined the PDRM 69 Commando with the TNI-AD's KOSTRAD (Army Strategic Reserve Command) unit, lasted for five months. Both forces successfully attacked the two PARAKU group strongholds, and the agility and bravery of the 69 Commando led by Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid during the ensuing battle, which succeeded in taking down several PARAKU members, greatly impressed the Indonesian security forces. In addition to Ops Jemput Tiga, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid also led three 69 Commando platoons to Hulu Perak in August 1975 in a movement to search for and intercept a communist terrorist group involved in the murder of four Auxiliary Constable members of the Grik Police Station, where the four members were killed and their bodies mutilated by the communists with knives.
On September 3, 1975, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid's unit successfully detected the location of the enemy camp involved near Gerik, and a battle ensued between the 69 Commando unit led by Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid and the communist terrorists, who numbered between 30 and 40, before the terrorists retreated. In that battle, two 69 Commando members, Corporal Sheikh Ismail and Corporal Aziz Idris, were injured, and assistance to the Tek Tapong Unit was requested via radio signal.
As a result of his unit's inspection of the communist camp left behind after the battle, they successfully seized 6 backpacks containing food and clothing, 2 mortar weapons, 18 explosive devices, 15 boxes of food supplies, medicine, and several other items. Furthermore, they also recovered 3 shotguns believed to belong to the four Auxiliary Constables who were killed at the time.
On September 3, 1975, Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid passed away after stepping on a booby trap set by communist terrorists while carrying two injured 69 Commando members to the landing zone after the operation to hunt the communist terrorists involved in the murder of the four auxiliary police officers was completed, in order to transport them to the hospital.
Unfortunately, the national hero's right leg was severed, and the injury to his thigh was severe, causing him to lose a significant amount of blood. Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid took his final breath while delivering a final message to his men. Among his last words were, "Continue your struggle... destroy the nation's traitors. Hunt and destroy them... even if I am no longer here!" Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid passed away one day before the month of Ramadan. The remains of the late Mohd Zabri bin Abdul Hamid were laid to rest in Tapah, Perak, with full police honors. A atmosphere of sadness, grief, and tears enveloped his relatives, family, friends, and the PDRM community, especially the officers and members of the 69 Commando who were very close to the late hero.
Additionally, the Inspector-General of Police at the time, Tun Haniff Omar, the Perak Police Chief, and police officers were present to pay their final respects to the late hero. As a sign of remembrance for his service in the struggle against the nation's traitors, he was posthumously awarded the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police, and a 69 Commando training camp in Tasik Banding was named Kem Zabri. May Allah shower blessings upon the soul of the deceased and place him among the Islamic warriors who died as martyrs. Al-Fatihah.
