A photo of Sibat, taken after he had retired from the army.
SIBU (May 18): The Iban community has just lost one of their brave sons, former second warrant officer Wilfred Sibat Manja who had fought against the communists in both Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak during the Insurgency.
According to Academy of Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (Asadia) head Mabong Unggang, Sibat passed away on May 13 at Sarawak Heart Centre in Kota Samarahan, at age 78.
He left behind his widow Samai Kumpang, four children and six grandchildren.
Samai is the daughter of Kumpang Tinggi – one of the 21 Iban trackers and Sarawak Rangers whose remains were exhumed from their graves all across Peninsular Malaysia and brought home to Sarawak under ‘Ops Mai Pulai’, to be laid to rest in the Heroes Grave at Jalan Budaya in Kuching on July 27, 2011.
Archive photo, taken during his service in Peninsular Malaysia, shows Sibat in his full military ceremonial attire.
Mabong said Sibat, who hailed from Kerangan Rangkan in Katibas, Song, was born on Dec 28, 1943.
“He joined the Royal Ranger Regiment First Battalion in 1963. He had fought against the Indonesians along with the Gurkha soldiers during the Confrontation era.
“He had also fought against the communists during his service in Taiping, Perak. In one of the battles, he suffered gunshot wounds on his body and thigh – it took about three months in the hospital for him to recover from these injuries,” he said.
Mabong regarded Sibat’s bravery as ‘the real portrayal of the Royal Ranger’s motto ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban’ (As Long As There Is Still Life In Us, We Continue To Fight).
“He never retreated in any battle, even if there was a rain of bullets.
“From Perak, he got transferred to Melaka and later, to Penrissen Camp in Kuching, where he continued to serve until his retirement from the army in 1985.”
Mabong said after his retirement, Sibat joined a guard/escort company and remained there for 27 years.
“Sibat was also an active member of the Veterans Association of Royal Ranger Regiment (PVTKR).
“In honour of his bravery in defending the nation, he was awarded the ‘Pingat Perkhidmatan Setia’, ‘Pingat Perkhidmatan Awam’, ‘Pingat Peringatan Malaysia’ and ‘Pingat Jasa Malaysia’,” he said.
Mabong added that Sibat was also a skilful craftsman of Iban traditional instruments like the ‘gendang’ (drums), ‘terabai’ (shield), and blowpipes.
“He made 32 ‘gendang’ for 10th Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment at Muara Tuang Camp (near Kota Samarahan).
“He was always very generous with his knowledge, and often shared it with Asadia.
“His demise is a great loss to Iban arts enthusiasts. We pray that his soul would be together with our Father in Heaven,” he said.
Sibat was laid to rest at the Mile 13 Catholic Cemetery in Kuching.