Letter - Name a major road after Yuen Yuet Leng

I MUST say a big thank you to Azman Ujang for paying such a glowing tribute to the late Tan Sri Yuen Yuet Leng (Off The Cuff, Oct 9). Yuen was truly a hero of the nation's war against communist insurgents and a true patriot. No words can adequately express the nation's gratitude for the sacrifices he made as a Special Branch officer who was in the forefront in the fight against the communists.
As former deputy director of Special Branch Datuk Khaw Miang Hua wrote in his letter on Oct 13, let us hope that Yuen's passing will strike the right chord in the conscience of every right thinking Malaysian that Malaysia is a nation for all. All Malaysians have contributed to make the country what it is today.
I was a primary schoolboy riding pillion on my father's motorcycle on Nov 13, 1975 when we were caught in a massive traffic jam near the Ipoh General Hospital traffic light. The cause of the traffic jam was a stalled white Volvo 244 GL with tinted black screen. Only later was it announced that the then Perak chief police officer, Tan Sri Koo Chong Kong, was shot dead in the car along with his driver. I asked my father the story behind the shooting. He told me that Koo was a serious, disciplined and no-nonsense police officer who had earned the enmity of the communists. Years later, I saw a street in Ipoh Old Town named Jalan Koo Chong Kong.
My first encounter with Yuen was when my cousin, who was a girl guide, went missing while hiking in Menglembu Hill, Ipoh. A crowd, including my relatives, had gathered at the foothill. Suddenly, a police officer appeared at the scene and started to give instructions and supervised the personnel on duty. I asked my father who this was. My father replied that he was Datuk Seri Yuen Yuet Leng, the police chief who had replaced Koo.
Yuen was hands on. I saw him take a loud hailer to urge the crowd to make way for the police personnel to discharge their duties. He managed to calm the crowd and went up the hill. My cousin was found safe together with the rest of the missing girl guides and scouts.
When I was in Form One in 1981, I was surprised to see Yuen at a Careers Day event in school. He gave a speech and answered queries. Before leaving, he shook hands with all the students.
When it was my turn, he asked me what my ambitious was. I replied I would like to be a policeman or fireman. He smiled and replied: "Young boy, you must have strong discipline, courage and determination to be a policeman. Hope you join the Force one day."
As Yuen's daughter Susan said in Azman's column, her father had volunteered to be the chief police officer for Perak despite knowing that like Koo, he was high on the communist hit list.
It was the rare and classic hallmark of a man who readily put his life on the line in the cause of the nation's war against the communists which came to an end with the signing of the Hat Yai Peace Accord on Dec 2, 1989.
As a lasting tribute and honour to Yuen for all his sacrifices, may I propose that a major road either in Ipoh or another city be named after him.
Choong Mee Fatt
Bangi