IMR455 BUKIT KEPONG INCIDENT

Bukit Kepong
Incident

FINDING AIDS:
BUKIT KEPONG INCIDENT

FACULTY OF INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Puncak Perdana Campus No. 1 Jalan Pulau Angsa AU/10A, Seksyen U10, 40150 Shah Alam Selangor

ADMINISTRATION OF ARCHIVES
(IMR455)

PREPARED FOR:
TS DR HJ SAIFUL FARIK BIN MAT YATIN



PREPARED BY:

Fateen Adlinah Binti Affendi 2020862164
Muhamad Aiman Shafiq Bin Zaidi 2021812578
Muhamad Syahmi Bin Kamal 2021853258
Muhammad Arash Bin Pakhrurrazi 2020496486
Noor Junaidah Binti Ariffin 2021621932
Nur Alia Amira Binti Mazlan 2021861866
Nur Hana Binti Abd Samat 2021149563

CLASS:
IMR455 ELEK D

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.

Alhamdulillah, our group has succeeded in finishing this assignment. This task has been
assigned to us. However, it would not have been possible without the kind support and help
of individuals. We want to extend our sincere thanks to all of them. To complete this
assignment, we had to get the help and guidelines of respected people who deserve our
most incredible gratitude. We are delighted to have completed this assignment. We want to
show our appreciation for Ts Dr Hj Saiful Farik Bin Mat Yatin for giving us good guidelines
for the assignment. We would also like to express our gratitude to our team members, who
have made valuable suggestions on this assignment which inspired us to improve this
assignment.

EXPLANATORY NOTES

The purpose of this book is to make it easier to access and use records and archival
materials related to the Bukit Kepong Incident. Various kinds of information are retrieved
from electronic sources.

This finding aid's goal is to make it easier for researchers to locate and collect the needed
information. All the items are listed according to the collection type and index criteria with
the appropriate pages to make it easier for researchers to find the required content.

Every list of archive materials also includes a description to help with accurate and faster
retrieval of the items. The information in these finding aids was collected using resources
from Malaysia's National Archives.

1

Abbreviations

NO Abbreviations Explanatory

1 AP Auxiliary Police
2 CRM Communist Republic of Malaysia
3 KPB Police Station Chief
4 MCP Malayan Communist Party
5 MNLA
Malaysia National Liberation Army

2

INTROD
UCTION

3

The Bukit Kepong incident is an attack by the communists when the Federation of
Malaya is in an emergency state after World War II. The incident happened when
the police station located at Bukit Kepong, Muar, was attacked by one hundred
and eighty communists. The attacks started at five o'clock in the morning on
February 23, 1950. Bukit Kepong is a small village located in Muar, Johor, where
the village has no more than 20 shops that the Chinese people own. The village
was 59 kilometres away from the city, and the nearest village where most Malay
people live was six kilometres away. During the incident of Bukit Kepong, even we
lose the fight but it has shown us that we have won in terms of the mentality and
courage and braveness showed by the police. Small group of police that have
strong mentality and braveness can fight until their last drop of blood and will do
anything to secure the police station before it being burned by the communist.

4

CHAPTER 1 :

HISTORY OF B

UKIT KEPONG

INCIDENT

5

Figure 1: Gambar kenangan anggota polis Bukit Kepong
sebelum peristiwa serangan balai polis pada 23 Februari
1950. (Duduk no. 3 dari kiri SJN. Jamil Mohd. Shah dan
no. 4 Penghulu Ali)

Accession Number: 1998/0009611W

The Bukit Kepong incident occurred in 1950 during the Malayan Emergency between the
Federation of Malaya Police and the guerrillas of the Malayan National Liberation Army (MNLA), the
military wing of the Malayan Communist Party (MCP). The Bukit Kepong police station area was the
location of this incident. About 59 kilometres from Muar town in Johor, the wooden station was
situated on the riverbanks of the Muar River.

Almost all police officers were killed in the guerrilla attack that Communist militants launched soon
before dawn on the police station. When they began the siege, the attackers were adamant that
they would quickly overpower the police officers and take complete control of the police station. It
is because of a wide range of factors that work in their favour, such as the benefit of having
weapons, the considerable quantity of members, and the state of the isolated police station. 6

The Bukit Kepong Police Station became the center of the communist movement there around
the beginning of the 1950s. At the time, Palestine-experienced Police Station Chief Sergeant Ray
Dancey supervised the police station. He had long since moved, and Sergeant Jamil Mohd Shah
had taken up his position, so it wouldbe likely that the communist terrorists were aware of this
when they attacked the police station.

Around 180 Communists attacked, commanded by Malay Communist Muhammad Indera. About
25 policemen fought to the end in the incident with the police officers headed by Sergeant. Jamil
Mohd Shah refused to surrender, despite several communist appeals for them to put down their
guns. As the shooting continued, several police officers were killed, and two wives of the
defending officers took up guns after knowing their husbands had been killed in the incident.

7

Figure 2: Pandangan belakang balai polis Bukit Kepong
hari ini.

Accession Number: 1998/0009628W

The Communists set fire to the officers' quarters and station in the last hours of the war. In the

quartes, two ladies and their children were burned to death. Only three police officers and a

village guard remained alive at the time. They hurried out of the burning station because they

could not bear the heat. They then attacked the Communists, murdering at least three of them.

The communists managed to breach their defences and set fire to the police station only around

five hours after the first shot was fired. The total number killed in the tragedy was 25, including

family members of police officers and villagers. 8

CHAPTE

R 2 :

DURING THE INCIDENT

9

The true event of Bukit Kepong incident

The ambush by the communists took place at about 5.00 am on 23 Figure 3: Kawasan balai polis Bukit Kepong menjadi
February 1950. The tragic incident is still fresh in the history of 'padang jarak padang terkukur' angkara kekejaman
Malaysians even though 72 years have passed. Indeed, the pengganas komunis.
independence enjoyed today is the sacrifices of the souls and bodies Accession number: 1998/0009602W
of the previous national heroes. The Auxiliary Police Officers works
closely with the Bukit Kepong police officers. During the incident, 10
three of them were on duty as usual when the Bukit Kepong Police
Station was attacked by a group of communist terrorists who were
185 people at about 5.00 am, 23 February 1950. The tragedy was
fierce, and the communist terrorists ordered members of the
polices to surrender but were ignored by them. The battle continued
and several members of the police station were killed, while in the
barracks, non-duty police officers continued to fight until one by one
fell.

The true event of Bukit Kepong incident

In addition, two wives of police marines also joined the battle when they found their
husbands killed, and they continued to fight with other members of police officers until they
ran out of ammunition. Given the strength of the police station defense, the communists
began to use dirty tactics. They arrested one of the police officer's wives, pointed a gun at
her, and forced her to order the police officers who remained at the police station to
surrender. The police officers responded to the call by saying that they would not give up
and would continue to fight. Another police officer's wife and daughter were forced out and
surrendered, but they refused and were willing to die. Eventually, both of them were killed.
Communist terrorists set fire to barracks, including two women and a child charred in the
final stages of the four-hour battle.

11

The true event of Bukit Kepong incident

Only three police officers, including a village guard, are still Figure 4: Mayat anggota polis hangus terbakar dalam peristiwa
alive. They had to run out as they could not stand the heat Bukit Kepong yang diserang komunis pada 23 Februari 1950.
following the fire at the police station. In their escape, they
crashed into a terrorist position causing three communists Accession number: 1998/0009600W
to be killed. Only one person managed to cross the river
with a rifle still in his hand. While defending the police

station, 19 members were killed, and 40 communist soldiers

were killed.

12

CHAPTE

R 3 :

AFTER THE INCIDENT

13

Figure 5: Tapak Balai Polis Bukit Kepong yang
Dibakar Oleh Pengganas Komunis.

Accession Number: 1998/0009610W

The picture above shows the devastating sight of what used to be the police station of Bukit Kepong.

In the final moments of the incident, the police station was lit up by fire by the Communists in an

attempt to stop the police officers when Sgt. Jamil Mohd Shah refused to surrender. Two women

picked up firearms as soon as they found out that their husbands were dead. The women died with

their children in the married quarters due to the fire. At least three Communists were killed after

some of the police officers survived as they rushed out from the heat of the fire. The police station

was set on fire after the Communists were able to break the police's defences, and a few stores were

robbed. Not too long after that, the Communists retreated into the jungle. After the incident, only a

few survived, while many of the injured and dead people were thrown into the fire by the

Communists. 14

Figure 6: Kubur Peristiwa Bukit Kepong



Accession Number: 2001/0049511W



The graves of the people who defended Bukit Kepong Police Station are shown in the

picture above. The graveyard was barricaded to differentiate between the commoner and

them. A total of 19 police officers were killed in the battle against the communist offensive,

in which the police station and barracks where the police officers lived were also burned to

the ground. The total number killed in the tragedy was 25, including family members of

police officers and villagers. To some extent, the sacrifice of the country's fighters in

defending the homeland during the First Emergency has curb the spread of communist

terrorist activities. Since then, the locals have made sure to take good care of the graveyard

in honoring the people who died in the incident. 15

CHAPTE

R 4 :

CEREMONIES

16

Bukit Kepong Incident Commemoration Ceremony in
Conjunction with Police Day Celebration

The 70th anniversary of the Malayan Communist Party (CPM) terrorist attack on the Bukit
Kepong Police Station occurred on February 23, 1950, but it has never faded from
Malaysians' memories. The CPM intended to attack the station due to its remote location,
10 kilometers from Lenga, a small town in the Muar district of Johor. Because of this
factor, the terrorists are confident they can easily defeat the small force of station
members, aside from wanting vengeance for defeating the security forces in Pekan Labis.
In the early morning incident, 180 CPM members surrounded the station area and
launched guerrilla attacks on the police officers. CPM terrorists were even more heinous
in their treatment of women and children. Despite their valiant efforts to repel the
enemy's assault and defend the hall and family, the police officers eventually collapsed.

17

Bukit Kepong Incident Commemoration Ceremony in
Conjunction with Police Day Celebration

The wives' bravery in taking up arms was also insufficient to combat the large number
of enemies. The bloody incident claimed the lives of 25 people, including 14 police
officers, five Auxiliary Police (AP) members, and six family members, including two
civilians. Meanwhile, four other officers were seriously injured. During the attack, the
police force successfully defeated 40 terrorists. The Bukit Kepong Incident
Commemoration Ceremony, held in conjunction with the 213th Police Day Celebration
2020, was held on Sunday, February 23, 2020, at the Bukit Kepong Emergency Gallery.
YAB Dato 'Dr. Sahruddin Bin Haji Jamal, President of Johor, and YDH DIG Dato
'Pahlawan Mazlan Bin Mansor, Deputy Inspector General of Police, officiated at the
ceremony. This ceremony is held each year to commemorate and appreciate the
assistance and sacrifices of the fighters who were injured or killed in the bloody
tragedy of the Bukit Kepong Police Station attack. The family members of the Bukit
Kepong tragedy fighters were also given donations and appreciation.

18

Bukit Kepong Incident Commemoration Ceremony in
Conjunction with Police Day Celebration

The Bukit Kepong Emergency Gallery began construction on October 19, 2012, and was
completed on May 13, 2016. Also present, YAD Datin Dr. Nila Armila binti Mukdan, wife of
YAB MB Johor, YB Dato 'Haji Azmi Bin Rohani, Johor State Secretary, YDH CP Dato' Mohd
Kamarudin bin Md Din, Johor Police Chief, and wife of YBhg. Datin Johariah Urib Binti
Mohd Ariffin, YB Dato ’Haji Mohd Haffiz bin Haji Ahmad, Muar District Officer, YB Tuan
Haji Suhaizan Bin Kaiat, Speaker of the Johor State Assembly, YB Tuan Dr. Ramakrisnan a/l
Suppiah Chairman of the Unity, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee, YB
Tuan Haji Mohd Solihan Bin Badri Chairman of the Public Works, Transport and
Infrastructure Committee, YDH ACP Zaharudin Bin Rasip, Muar District Police Chief, State
Police Commissioners / State Police Chiefs, Muar State and District Department Chiefs,
District Police Chiefs, and PDRM Members.

19

CHAPTE

R 5 :

NOTABLE INDIVIDUAL

20

The late Sergeant Jamil Mohd Shah was one of the police officers
who led his team against the communists led by Muhammad
Indera, in the Bukit Kepong incident.

Figure 7: Potret Sarjan Jamil Mohd Shah (Ketua At that time the police station was headed by the Police Station
Polis Balai Bukit Kepong) Chief (KPB) Sergeant Ray Dancey, who had served in Palestine.
During the attack on the police station, he had long since been
Accession Number: 1998/0009612W transferred and his post was taken over by Sergeant Jamil Mohd
Shah.

21

Even so, the communists still failed to enter the hall area until they attacked
with Molotov cocktails that caused the hall to burn. Then, Sergeant Jamil
and the other members moved to the adjacent fort to attack the
communists. They did not give up, and they continued to attack the
communists. However, some members were killed while moving to other
forts due to communist gunfire. He was also killed when the communists
managed to enter the station area and killed the remaining police officers,
including him, the fall of another of the bravest patriots and the most
respected officer like Lieutenant Adnan.

The determination and spirit of struggle that the late Seargent Jamil
endured have raised the spirit of his men to refuse to give up, despite
repeated calls by the communists for them to give up. Even if their
comrades fall one by one, they will never let the influence of these
communists pollute the homeland.

22

Dato' Sri Sentosa Setia Diraja, Tan Sri John Joe Raj Jr. (or J.J. Raj Jr.) was a Figure 8: Picture of Tan Sri John Joe Raj Jr.
former Pagoh District Police Chief during the Bukit Kepong Incident. His last (21 July 1921 - 6 November 2021)
position in the Royal Malaysia Police was as Managing Director in Bukit
Aman, Kuala Lumpur holding the rank of Police Commissioner. 23

Pagoh Police Chief Inspector J.J Raj and ten other members headed to the
Bukit Kepong Police Station to visit and inspect the station. Their arrival was
greeted by its chief, Sergeant Jamil Mohd Shah, and the village chief,
Penghulu Ali. Besides the usual patrols, Raj's arrival carries a more significant
meaning. He was worried about getting an initial report from the Special
Branch saying it was possible the communists would try to carry out attacks
on the police stations under his supervision. As Pagoh Police Chief, Raj
supervises and guards 20 huts and 20 police stations, including the Bukit
Kepong Police Station.

Touching on the fighting spirit of the police officers at the station, Raj
admitted that the courage and spirit they had turned out to be
extraordinary. “They do not understand what it means to give up,
Sergeant Jamil and his members for example, they can just take the
easy way by giving up, let alone when remembering that they have
children and wives (in the hall), but they are determined to not want to
do so.” “I noticed that there are two things that make the spirit and
anger of the Malays will peak, first if their religion is threatened and
second if their families are disturbed this is what the communists did
to them at the Bukit Kepong Police Station, so it is not surprising why
they are so eager to fight,” said Tan Sri JJ Raj.

24

CONCL
USION

25

The Summary of the Bukit Kepong

The tragedy of Bukit Kepong occurred under Malaya's 12-year period of emergency (1948-1960).
The emergency has been declared because the Communist Party of Malaya (PKM) has launched an
armed coup to grab power and establish a COMMUNIST REPUBLIC OF MALAYSIA (CRM). In addition
to taking out aggressive activities such as damaging transportation facilities, they have murdered
many civilians and police personnel.

The citizenry lives in fear as a result of this PKM violence. Their existence is comparable to being on
the tip of a horn. PKM is unforgiving. National security personnel fought to their last drop of blood
against the country's enemies in order to get peace. Numerous members have been murdered or
severely injured.

26

Value that can be learned from Bukit Kepong event

The war at Bukit Kepong ended in a physical defeat but was a mental and moral
success. Despite facing an opponent 10 times stronger than them, the small-scale
soldiers defended their honour with passion and fighting spirit against communist
terrorists' attempts to force them into surrendering. Additionally, the communist
terrorists sustained multiple injuries. This event is a victory not only for themself but for
the nation as well. Police officers can save their lives and families by surrendering, but
they are aware that they are fighting for more worthy causes. Police officers struggled
to prevent the colonisation of their country by Communist terrorists.

27

The condition of Bukit Kepong

Nowadays, the hills area of Kepong is a historical site and brings back many memories of what
happened there. Around the hills of Kepong, places like the "Muzium Darurat Bukit Kepong"
have been built to remember this terrible event. The Bukit Kepong Museum is a natural history
and history museum in a small town in the district of Muar. During the emergency period,
communists attacked the Bukit Kepong police station. This is basically a museum that tells the
story of how the authorities back then tried to stop the attack made by communist.

29

LISMT OAFTEAR
RIACLHSIVAL

30

LIST OF ARCHIVAL ACCESSION NUMBER
MATERIALS
1998/0009611W


IMAGES 1998/0009627W
1998/0009626W
NO TITLE 1998/0009606W
Gambar kenangan anggota polis Bukit Kepong sebelum peristiwa serangan 2001/0049511W

1 balai polis pada 23 februari 1950. (Duduk dari no.3 dari kiri Sjn.Jamil
Mohd.Shah dan no.4 Penghulu Ali)

2 Pandangan belakang Balai Polis Bukit Kepong hari ini
3 Balai Polis Bukit Kepong hari ini
4 Bot yang digunakan oleh anggota polis Bukit Kepong

5 Kubur peristiwa bukit kepong

31

LIST OF ARCHIVAL
MATERIALS



IMAGES

NO TITLE ACCESSION NUMBER
1998/0009602W
6 Kawasan balai polis Bukit Kepong menjadi 'padang jarak padang terkukur' 1998/0009600W
angkara kekejaman pengganas komunis. 1998/0009629W
1998/0009605W
7 Mayat anggota polis hangus terbakar dalam peristiwa Bukit Kepong yang 1957/0163840W
diserang komunis pada 23 Februari 1950.

8 Pusara bagi mereka yang terkorban dalam peristiwa Bukit Kepong di tanah
perkuburan orang-orang islam Bukit Kepong, Muar, Johor.

9 Sebahagian dari anggota polis bergambar ramai di Anjong Balai tidak lama
sebelum serangan ke atas Balai Polis Bukit Kepong oleh komunis.

10 Monthly account 1912, Bukit Kepong Estate, Kepong.

32

LIST OF ARCHIVAL
MATERIALS



IMAGES

NO TITLE ACCESSION NUMBER
1998/0009612W
11 Potret Sarjan Jamil Mohd Shah (Ketua Polis Balai Bukit Kepong) 1998/0007836W
1998/0009610W
12 Gambar Dokumen Perjanijan Antara Kerajaan Malaysia dan Parti Komunis 1998/0009617W
Malaya (PKM) Disember 1989 1998/0009603W

13 Tapak Balai Polis Bukit Kepong yang Dibakar Oleh Pengganas Komunis.

14 MM 9136 Hassan Bin Othman anggota polis yang mempertahankan Balai Polis
dalam peristiwa Bukit Kepong

15 Balai polis Bukit Kepong yang hangus terbakar dalam peristiwa serangan
komunis pada 23 Februari 1950 ke atas Balai Polis Bukit Kepong
33

LIST OF
FIGURES

34

LIST OF FIGURES

NO description accession number

Gambar kenangan anggota polis Bukit Kepong sebelum peristiwa 1998/0009611W
1 serangan balai polis pada 23 Februari 1950. (Duduk no. 3 dari kiri 1998/0009628W
1998/0009602W
SJN. Jamil Mohd. Shah dan no. 4 Penghulu Ali) 1998/0009600W
1998/0009610W
2 Pandangan belakang balai polis Bukit Kepong hari ini.

3 Kawasan balai polis Bukit Kepong menjadi 'padang jarak padang
terkukur' angkara kekejaman pengganas komunis.

4 Mayat anggota polis hangus terbakar dalam peristiwa Bukit
Kepong yang diserang komunis pada 23 Februari 1950.

5 Tapak Balai Polis Bukit Kepong yang Dibakar Oleh Pengganas
Komunis.

35

LIST OF FIGURES

NO description accession number

6 Kubur Peristiwa Bukit Kepong 2001/0049511W
7 Potret Sarjan Jamil Mohd Shah (Ketua Polis Balai Bukit Kepong) 1998/0009612W
8 Picture of Tan Sri John Joe Raj Jr.(21 July 1921 - 6 November 2021)
-

36

Inde
xes

37

Indexes

C M

Chinese 4 Muar 4,17,29
Malayan National Liberation Army 6
Chief Seargeant Ray Dancey 7,21 Muhammad Indera 7,21
29
Communist Republic of Malaysia 26 Muzium darurat
7
D P 18

Dato Dr.Sahruddin bin Haji Jamal 18 Palestine 7,14,21,22,23,24
President of Johor
Dato Pahlawan Mazlan bin Mansor 18 19
S 19
Datin Dr Nila Armila bin Mukdim 19 19
Sergeant Jamil Mohd Shah 23
Dato Haji Azmi bin Rohani 19
T
Dato Johariah Urib binti Mohd 19
Tuan Haji Suhaizan bin Kaiat
Dato Sri Sentosa Sri Diraja 23 Tuan Dr Rama Ramakrishan
Tuan Haji Mohd Solihan
F 3,6 Tan Sri John Joe Raj Jr 38

Federation of Malaya Police 4,17,19
18
J

Johor
Johor Police officer

Refer
ence

39

Reference

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http://kgraja.pjk.com.my/index.php/warga-pi1m/maklumat-pi1m/sejarah/44-sejarah

Ismail , A. (2021). Bukit Kepong Sarat Cerita Sejarah - berita harian. Berita Harian Online.Retrieved June 21, 2022, from
https://www.bharian.com.my/hujung-minggu/santai/2021/10/873767/bukit-kepong-sarat-cerita-sejarah

Ismail, A. (2020, May 29). Pusara Pejuang Bukit Kepong Kekal Terpelihara - Harian metro. Pusara pejuang Bukit Kepong kekal
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Reference

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musnah-diserang-komunis-1950-348184

ML, A. (2022, February 24). 72 Tahun Tragedi Bukit Kepong, imbas Kembali Perjuangan Wira-Wira Negara menentang komunis.
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Bukit-kepong-imbas-kembali-perjuangan-wira-wira-negara-menentang-komunis/

Media Baharu. (2022, February 23). Majlis Memperingati Peristiwa Bukit Kepong, hargai perjuangan menentang komunis.
Portal Berita RTM. Retrieved June 27, 2022, from https://berita.rtm.gov.my/index.php/semasa/35374-majlis-memperingati-
Peristiwa-bukit-kepong-hargai-perjuangan-menentang-komunis

Peristiwa Bukit Kepong. (2022). Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristiwa_Bukit_Kepong 41

Reference

Police, R. M. (2018). Bukit Kepong Retrieved June 22, 2022, from https://www.rmp.gov.my/infor-korporate/polis-
diraja-malaysia/sejarah/bukit-kepong

Syahril A. Kadir. (2020). Bukit Kepong: Saya lihat sendiri polis dan keluarga mereka dibunuh, dibakar! Malaysia Gazette.
Retrieved June 23, 2022, from https://malaysiagazette.com/2020/08/31/bukit-kepong-saya-lihat-sendiri-polis-dan-
keluarga-mereka-dibunuh-dibakar/

Wikipedia contributors. (2022b, February 11). Peristiwa Bukit Kepong. Wikipedia Bahasa Melayu, ensiklopedia bebas. Retrieved J
June 21, 2022, from https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peristiwa_Bukit_Kepong

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