Lt-Gen Johnny Lim: Nation's defence is every Malaysian's duty [WATCH]

KUALA LUMPUR: THE jungle was thick with silence, broken only by the cautious steps of soldiers moving along a dangerous trail.

Each footfall carried the weight of risk, every clearing a potential ambush.

Lieutenant-General Datuk Johnny Lim remembers those tense operations vividly, when his battalion was tasked with flushing out communist terrorist remnants along Malaysia’s northern border.

“There was one operation that was very difficult. The whole battalion was involved at the border and we were tasked to find the Flower Garden Camp (a communist hideout deep in the jungle near the Malaysian-Thai border).

“But the area was filled with booby traps. We lost people there, and casualties had to be evacuated by helicopter.

“That operation was extremely difficult because of the number of traps and the unseen enemy,” he said in an interview with the New Straits Times.

Those years in the late 1980s tested young officers like Lim to the core. The fear was real, but so was the determination.

“Everyone has fear in life. But of course, you pray. You pray for yourself, but you also have to be with your men. We were trained for that.

“We went through many courses to prepare for such conditions. With training, and a bit of luck, you get through safely.

“Of course, not everyone did — many of my counterparts did not make it. Those who gave their lives made the ultimate sacrifice, and that is why we remember them on Warriors’ Day, just as soldiers are remembered all over the world.”

It was in the unforgiving jungles, under constant threat, that he first learnt the true meaning of duty and sacrifice.

Lim’s decision to become a soldier came early, shaped by his years in the cadet corps.

He was drawn to the discipline, the uniform, and the call to serve, though his family was hesitant — his mother had hoped he might change his mind — but she eventually gave her blessing.

“I was attracted to the discipline, the uniform, and the ability to serve not only my countrymen and women, but also the nation. That was what guided me,” he said.

From the Royal Military College, he went on to train at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, where the cold weather and gruelling training hardened his resolve.

“When I graduated from Sandhurst, it was a proud moment because I proved that I could train alongside the British.

“The training was very tough, especially in winter. I was considered short, while the British were so tall, and we had to carry heavy packs in freezing conditions. But it was an achievement that I will always remember.”

What began as a boyhood ambition to become a commanding officer eventually took Lim to the highest echelons in the military.

After more than four decades of service, he was promoted to lieutenant-general — making him the first Malaysian of Chinese descent to attain the three-star rank.

“I think it’s a very significant step because it shows that if you believe in yourself and you work hard, you can achieve anything.

“People call me the first Chinese lieutenant-general. I think it’s good to attract more Chinese youth and society to the armed forces because the representation in the army is very low, only about 0.03 per cent,” he said.

To Lim, his promotion was more than personal recognition — it was a reminder that the defence of the nation was the responsibility of all Malaysians.

“I believe it is everyone’s role, not just a certain race.

“Everybody has a part to play in the defence of our country.

“There’s no greater honour than to serve your beloved country and your people. It is the responsibility of every community to step forward,” he said.

The journey, however, was never easy. Lim has missed countless milestones — from family anniversaries to festive seasons, and even his grandfather’s funeral.

“When I was a young officer stationed in East Malaysia, it was difficult to come back even for Chinese New Year. My family understood. It’s the kind of sacrifice we knew we had to make when we joined the service,” he said.

His wife and son bore the weight of those absences.

“My son initially couldn’t understand why I was always away. But my wife would tell him that I was doing my duty, and that ‘daddy would come home’. That helped him to cope,” he said.

For Lim, such sacrifices were part of leadership.

“Your men look up to you as their leader and they expect your decisions to be just and fair. That’s why you are their commanding officer.

“Leadership means carrying responsibility, even when it is difficult,” he said.

Now, as Malaysia celebrates Merdeka, his story resonates with the spirit of unity in diversity.

Lim believes his own career embodies a larger lesson for the nation — that service and sacrifice transcend race.

“I always say the armed forces is a noble profession. If you really want to serve the country, your devotion to duty must be consistent.

“The experiences you gain in the armed forces cannot be measured in monetary terms and can never be replicated.

“And there is no greater honour than to serve your fellow citizens, regardless of race, while serving the nation,” he said.

To younger Malaysians, his advice is clear: “Be a good citizen. Everybody has a role, even if it is simply by not causing harm, and by helping and respecting others.

“Regardless of race or creed, that is what makes us stronger as a nation. We are born in this beloved country, and we must unite and give our best.”

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

Source link