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Operation Helsby - A Combined Police / Military Operation Against Communist Terrorists
Taken from Dato Seri Yuen Yuet Leng’s album, a page with description and pictures of a joint operation code named 'Helsby', by 16 Federal Jungle Company (FJC) force and the Royal Marines' 40 Commando, which were deployed to ‘clear the remaining elements’ of the 12th Regiment MRLA (Malayan Races Liberation Army) and to liberate Kampung Belum from the rebel menace.
The 44 day Operation Helsby saw State Committee Member (SCM) Loh Mah being evacuated to Thailand due to an advanced condition of Tuberculosis, where he eventually died. It is learnt that his son became a legitimate politician years later. Branch Committee Member (BCM) Ah Choo who was an ASAL worker and (also Lo Mah’s lover) was subsequently deployed in the Min Yuen (this, known as the Masses Movement in English, was the civilian network supporting their armed colleagues) where she was later killed by Security Forces. Both Lo Mah and Ah Choo were English educated and are pictured bottom left.
Another CT Unit was later ambushed by Yuen and his men. Its leader Lee Weng escaped but his leading scout was killed in the action. The rebel leader later surrendered to the forces when heavy rain and strong currents along the rivers proved just too much for him.
After surrendering himself, Lee Weng joined the Special Branch team and served the department for 30 years. A loyal and courageous worker, he went on to be a ‘very, very close friend’ of the Yuen family.
Pictured centre and right are 3 members of 40 Commando’s WT Operator team, Lt. Pennel (who Yuen describes as a quiet man), an SAS Sgt. Major, a Guide from Kampong Bersia, Yuen, a Signaller and an Special Mobile Squad (SMS) Officer.
Also included on this page (bottom right) is a Straits Times news report dated 13th February 1952 reporting the Liberation of Kampong Belum Incident by the Royal Marines 40 Commando team.
Subsequently, in response to s question, Dato Seri advised:
Lee Weng was one terrorist I feared most in the jungle. Luckily he surrendered in late 1952 after having attempted to ambush my vehicle and kill me on at least three occasions. But he respected me from the reports he obtained from farmers and rubber tappers that I was an honest, fair and kind police officer and very helpful and considerate to families of people arrested by the Special Branch. I took him into the Special Branch at first temporarily and because of his personal qualities he was retained in the SB until he went into self empoyment running a small business to bring up his family. His sons are in business,a daughter operates a successful restaurant in Menglembu and another is married to a British solicitor near Brighton, UK. He died around 2003.
To see a Group Photograph of 16 FJC in 1953, click here.
To read more about Dato’ Seri Yuen Yuet Leng, click here.