Bukit Kepong Museum project to start soon

NST 2011/10/22 By Rizalman Hammim

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar is all ears as Ahmad Abdul Jamil, 63, the son of a policeman who died in the Bukit Kepong tragedy, speaks to him during the special police gathering yesterday in honour of the policemen and their families who died defending the police station against communists. At right is Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff. — NST picture by Shahrul M.Zain

MUAR: The much-delayed Bukit Kepong Museum project will finally get off the ground.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said the museum would be located at the original site of the doomed Bukit Kepong police station, which came under attack by communist terrorists in 1950.

He said a special committee comprising Bukit Aman logistics director Datuk Zulkifli Abdullah and Johor police chief Datuk Mohd Mokhtar Mohd Shariff, would submit the design to the Home Ministry soon.

"The proposed site for the project, announced a decade ago, was found to be flood-prone and we've decided to set it up at the original site," he said after a special police gathering in honour of the Bukit Kepong policemen and their families who died defending the station against 180 communists on Feb 23, 1950.

Ismail also presented souvenirs to the next of kin of the policemen and their families, and letters of appreciation to 16 police officers from the Muar and Batu Pahat police stations for busting a syndicate which stole RM5 million worth of telecommunications equipment.

Ismail also cleared the air over a public misconception that police were slow to react to complaints, including those on the recent alleged attempt to twist historical facts on the Bukit Kepong tragedy.

"We adopt a rational approach in conducting our investigations as we can't base them on our whims and fancies. We investigate on facts and in a rational manner according to the law."

Ismail also expressed dismay at certain quarters who tried to distort the facts surrounding the tragedy and belittle the sacrifices made by the policemen then.

"I hope the public will not easily be swayed by these attempts and rest assured, the government has always remembered their sacrifices."