Bukit Kepong

We're being ambushed! Take cover! Quickly!

BUKIT KEPONG MUAR JANUARY 2, 1950

-Take the rope. -Alright.

Peace be upon you.

Peace be upon you too.

Watch your step.

Thank you.

How are you?

We're good.

-Welcome. -Thank you.

-Bring everything to the station. -Alright.

How was the trip, sir?

We were ambushed on the way.

But luckily no one was hurt.

There have been reports of Communists in this area, sir.

We should be more careful then.

-How are you, sir? -I'm fine.

-Did your family accompany you, sir? -No, they didn't.

Peace be upon you, Sergeant.

Peace be upon you too.

Welcome, Sergeant.

Thank you.

-Chief. -Please.

How are you, Corporal?

I'm Jamil Md Shah.

I'm Corporal 7068, Mohd Yassin Bin Hj Wahab.

I'm Lance Corporal 7186, Jidin Bin Omar.

I'm PC 10533, Osman Bin Yusoff.

I'm PC 8600, Jaffar Hassan.

I'm PC 7493, Mohd Bin Jaffar.

I'm PC 7645 Yusoff Rono.

I'm EPC 3472, Ahmad Bin Khalid.

I'm PC 9136, Hassan Bin Osman.

I'm PC 3933, Hamzah Bin Ahmad.

I'm PC 5674, Abu Bin Md Ali.

I'm EPC 3795, Jaffar Bin Arshad.

I'm PC 7862, Abu Kadir Bin Jusoff.

I'm EPC 3475, Mohd Tap Bin Lajim.

I'm MPC 60, Ibrahim Bin Adam.

I'm MPC 68, Awang Bin Ali.

I'm MPC 181, Basiron Bin Adam.

I'm MPC 37, Abu Bakar Bin Daud.

I'm Chief Ali Bin Mustafa.

I'm AP 2127, Osman Bin Yahya.

I'm AP 1925, Ali Akob.

I'm AP 2130, Samad Bin Yatim.

How are things?

Not good. We lost them.

How did it happen?

-I'll go again. -Bring your captain!

Yes, sir!

Wait.

Stop.

You guys get out of here.

Where are you going?

Why are you asking?

We just want to know.

You're not from around here. Where are you going?

Wherever we like. What do you want?

Whatever we like.

I congratulate all of you.

For carrying out your duty of maintaining the peace of this village.

Your bravery deserves to be complimented

as an example for all the villagers.

My friends and I will always protect this village.

If we work together,

the Communists will not influence the people of this village.

And here are the weapons we have confiscated.

-Is this the weapon that he used? -Yes, sir.

Jidin, log these weapons and arrange for the bodies to be brought to Pagoh.

Yes, sir.

Given that Bukit Kepong is isolated, far from the nearest communications,

and easily threatened,

I suggest to our AO, Mr. Davis,

and also our OCPD,

to set up an AP team in this area.

I agree with the Chief.

It seems that our village has been abandoned by the Government.

Look at our headquarters,

no phones, not to mention roads!

We can't go on with just a marine boat, sir.

Sir, is this place so unimportant

or have there been no improvements because of the lack of foreign interest?

Unlike Pagoh,

where they have OCPD, army, and a complete telephone system,

all because of the rubber plantations owned by the British.

That's not the case.

The Government has deployed sufficient police presence here.

And right now we're arranging for safety measures in this area.

There are so few policemen here compared to the numbers of villagers.

And they're not here for long term, they change every three months.

Look at our Sergeant here,

he's just arrived even before we got to know the previous Sergeant.

What the Chief said was right.

Up till now, the Government hasn't done anything

to maintain the peace of this area.

The Communists were even able to invade our village yesterday.

Luckily for us, the villagers are not easily influenced by the Communists.

And I believe the Government also does not want our village

to fall into Communist hands.

Sir, two days ago,

a Communist lackey came to my village.

He admitted to being a religious teacher.

Then he urged the villagers to support the Communist agenda.

We have always supported the Government in their fight against the Communists.

But it's difficult for us, sir.

We don't have weapons, only a strong will.

If these are the wishes and requests from the villagers in this area,

I will consider setting up an AP team here.

But with one condition,

and that is everyone must support the British government.

The Bukit Kepong District is populated with several villages,

namely Kampung Tui, Kampung Kecik,

Kampung Gek, Kampung Belatak, and Kampung Mede, among others.

After this excursion, we will set up an AP team in each village.

I would like to explain the emergency signals for each village

using the kentung found in mosques.

In case of emergency, such as a Communist attack,

the kentung has to be struck repeatedly

followed by one strike

for Kampung Tui,

two for Kampung Kecik,

three for Kampung Gek,

four for Kampung Belatak,

five for Kampung Mede.

And this does not include the village's own emergency signals.

How are things?

We have received information that they have joined the AP.

Useless! What were you doing?

If that's the case, then report on the AP.

Yes, sir.

Get Tuck Sai to monitor them.

-Ling, get Tuck Sai here. -Yes, sir.

Mat, take note.

We want more Malays to join us, not the AP!

Why do we need more? It spells trouble for us.

You must remember this is Malay territory.

Only if we have more Malay supporters, then we can win.

That's true, I know.

But it's difficult, these Malays are too religious.

Then you must join them and spread the word about our Party.

Read it well, Zamri.

Open the door! Open the door now!

Hurry! Where's Saibun?

I don't know.

Mom!

Tell us!

I don't know, he's not in the house.

Mom!

Help!

Hey, that's the direction of my house!

You tell the Chief! You guys follow me!

Hurry!

Chief!

What's the matter?

Leave now!

It's good that you're safe.

Curse those Communists!

Are you all right?

Stop. I need to conduct a check.

Stop.

What are you bringing?

Nothing, sir.

You may go.

-What's inside? -Nothing.

Stop right there.

-What are you bringing? -Nothing, sir.

-You may go. -Me?

-Open it up. -Nothing.

Open it up.

-What's inside? -Nothing.

-I need to check. Open up. -There's nothing here.

-Nothing. -Open it.

Clothes, just clothes.

-What's inside there? -Nothing.

-What's this? -Just my personal stuff. It's just rice.

And what's this? Looks like pills.

It's medicine. And rice too.

Mat, bring him to the station.

Sure.

I'm innocent!

Search!

Where's Ah Yau? Where are the things I ordered him to get?

I don't know! My husband's been taken by the police!

I don't care!

You need to hand the things over to me,

or else, I can't guarantee

you or your husband will get out of this alive!

-Mom! -Get down there. Hurry up.

-Mom! -Get down there. Sit down!

-Mom! -Shut up!

Please…

I beg you.

Something's already happened to my husband.

Why do you still force me?

We're both Chinese, look at us! Look at us!

Why are you doing this?

This is not an issue of race! Listen up!

I don't care about your problems, just hand over my things tomorrow!

Mom!