Kanang anak Langkau
Encyclopedia
PW 1 Temenggong Datuk Kanang anak Langkau, SP,PGB,P.G.B.K. (born 1945) is a famous Malaysian hero and soldier from the Iban Dayak
community in Sarawak
. He was in the Royal Ranger Regiment
and Regimental Sergeant Major
of 8 Renjer (8th Rangers) of the Malaysian Army
. He was awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani
and Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
medals from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
, Sultan Ahmad Shah on 3 June 1981.
Kanang anak Langkau was born on 1945 in Julau
, Sarawak
. He joined the service with the Sarawak Rangers, then part of the British Army
, as an Iban Tracker on 21 April 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers
when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He left the service after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer.
Following the death of one soldier in the Tanah Hitam, Perak
to communists on 8 February 1980, the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers under the leadership of Kanang anak Langkau was tasked to seek and destroy the group of communists. They tracked the enemy over 11 days on terrain familiar to the enemy. On the evening 19 February 1980 at around 1500 hours his platoon managed to estimate the location of the enemies, who were close by. Their initial estimate of the enemy's location proved incorrect when they found a communications cord connecting the sentry outpost to the main force and the platoon was well inside the enemy's perimeter. Cord such as this one is usually connected to a bush or empty cans so that a sentry could use it to alert the main guerilla force. They had unknowingly penetrated the enemy's perimeter.
Kanang, 8 metres from the enemy sentry position, launched an attack to his right flank. It then became apparent from the enemy return fire that the main force was to the left. They assaulted the left and routed the enemy taking one casualty and killing five communists. One soldier was seriously wounded and Kanang himself took three rounds but survived and eventually returned to active duty.His bravery was shown during the battle,when he shouts the legendary battle cry; 'Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!', which means 'As long as I live,I shall Fight!',in Iban
,which is also the Royal Ranger Regiment
motto.
On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orang utan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong. The baby orang utan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. He's currently as a Temenggong (Paramount Chief) of Iban people in Sri Aman,place where he currently resides.
On 24 September 2011,he was conferred the 'Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang' (P.G.B.K.) (English: Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak),with the title of 'Datuk' by the Governor of Sarawak,in conjunction with Head of State 90th Birthday.
Dayak people
The Dayak or Dyak are the native people of Borneo. It is a loose term for over 200 riverine and hill-dwelling ethnic subgroups, located principally in the interior of Borneo, each with its own dialect, customs, laws, territory and culture, although common distinguishing traits are readily...
community in Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. He was in the Royal Ranger Regiment
Royal Ranger Regiment
The Royal Ranger Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment , the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region...
and Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major
Regimental Sergeant Major is an appointment held by warrant officers class 1 in the British Army, the British Royal Marines and in the armies of many Commonwealth nations, including Australia and New Zealand; and by chief warrant officers in the Canadian Forces...
of 8 Renjer (8th Rangers) of the Malaysian Army
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
. He was awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani
Panglima Gagah Berani
The Panglima Gagah Berani is a medal given by the government of Malaysia. The name translates to "General of Bravery and Valor". It can be conferred posthumously. The award was created on 29 July 1960...
and Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
The Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa is the highest federal award which can be presented in Malaysia. It was created on 29 July 1960 and was gazetted on 11 August 1969....
medals from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Yang di-Pertuan Agong
The Yang di-Pertuan Agong is the head of state of Malaysia. The office was established in 1957 when the Federation of Malaya gained independence....
, Sultan Ahmad Shah on 3 June 1981.
Kanang anak Langkau was born on 1945 in Julau
Julau
Julau is a town, and the capital of the Julau District in Sarikei Division, Sarawak, east Malaysia. The district population was 34,500...
, Sarawak
Sarawak
Sarawak is one of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo. Known as Bumi Kenyalang , Sarawak is situated on the north-west of the island. It is the largest state in Malaysia followed by Sabah, the second largest state located to the North- East.The administrative capital is Kuching, which...
. He joined the service with the Sarawak Rangers, then part of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, as an Iban Tracker on 21 April 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers
Royal Ranger Regiment
The Royal Ranger Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment , the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region...
when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He left the service after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer.
Following the death of one soldier in the Tanah Hitam, Perak
Perak
Perak , one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in the Peninsular Malaysia bordering Kedah and Yala Province of Thailand to the north, Penang to the northwest, Kelantan and Pahang to the east, Selangor the Strait of Malacca to the south and west.Perak means silver in Malay...
to communists on 8 February 1980, the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers under the leadership of Kanang anak Langkau was tasked to seek and destroy the group of communists. They tracked the enemy over 11 days on terrain familiar to the enemy. On the evening 19 February 1980 at around 1500 hours his platoon managed to estimate the location of the enemies, who were close by. Their initial estimate of the enemy's location proved incorrect when they found a communications cord connecting the sentry outpost to the main force and the platoon was well inside the enemy's perimeter. Cord such as this one is usually connected to a bush or empty cans so that a sentry could use it to alert the main guerilla force. They had unknowingly penetrated the enemy's perimeter.
Kanang, 8 metres from the enemy sentry position, launched an attack to his right flank. It then became apparent from the enemy return fire that the main force was to the left. They assaulted the left and routed the enemy taking one casualty and killing five communists. One soldier was seriously wounded and Kanang himself took three rounds but survived and eventually returned to active duty.His bravery was shown during the battle,when he shouts the legendary battle cry; 'Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!', which means 'As long as I live,I shall Fight!',in Iban
Iban
IBAN or Iban may refer to:People* Ibán Espadas , footballer* Iban Iriondo , bicycle racer* Iban Mayo , bicycle racer* Iban Mayoz , bicycle racer* Iban Nokan, anthropologist and ethnographer...
,which is also the Royal Ranger Regiment
Royal Ranger Regiment
The Royal Ranger Regiment is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment , the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region...
motto.
On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orang utan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong. The baby orang utan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre. He's currently as a Temenggong (Paramount Chief) of Iban people in Sri Aman,place where he currently resides.
On 24 September 2011,he was conferred the 'Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang' (P.G.B.K.) (English: Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak),with the title of 'Datuk' by the Governor of Sarawak,in conjunction with Head of State 90th Birthday.
See also
- Communist Insurgency WarCommunist Insurgency WarThe Communist Insurgency War, or Second Malaysian Emergency was an insurgency and guerrilla war, conducted by the Malayan Communist Party against Malaysian armed forces from 1968 to 1989.-Origins:...
(1967–1989)