SIBU as photographed in 1983

Sibu Airport Main Entrance 1983

Sibu Airport Car Park 1983

Mas F27 Aircraft at Sibu Airport 1983

Sibu Town 1983

Sibu Town 1983

Photo of the building taken in 1983.

Sibu 1983.

Sibu 1983.

Sibu Ferry Terminal 1983

Sibu Fishing Fleet 1983

RMAF Sibu Detachment(1981-1991).

Mas Airport at Sibu, Sarawak 1983.

RMAF Sibu Detachment situated near the airfield with close proximity to civilian Mas Airport Sibu, Sarawak. Adjacent to Mas terminal building were the wooden Army barrack and followed along side the RMAF Sibu Detachment Camp and barrack.We are located inside and guarded airfield parameter with sentries on watch.

Countless military operations with the sustaining emergency requirement to be at Sibu airfield was a must with the rotational of personnels from RMAF Kuching made it possible as to maintain a good air liaison for the ground troops operational support. For this purposes we have several Nuris and AlouetteIII helicopters stationed at RMAF Sibu Detachment as to provide support for the ground troops in most of their military operations.

I was here for a several rotations with rest of the aircrews, technicians, radio personnels and the admin staffs which consolidated the total strength of the RMAF Sibu detachment. Detachment rotation of personnel were rather flexible, as for the aircrew one week basis, whilst the aircraft technician an option of two weeks to a month stay or on permanent voluntary request. The change over of personnels were controlled and coordinated from the parent base of RMAF Kuching. 

RMAF Sibu Detachment Camp(wooden barrack) at Sibu, Sarawak.

Accommodation was at the wooden barrack for all personnels with minor discrepancies found everywhere and was never like at RMAF Base Kuching. Working around the clock 24 hours a day, those with flying duties or on standby and the night watch was routine though the situation considered free from emergency threat of which we never simply assumed. Soldiering as an aircrew was a bitter time those days but eventually make oneself understood how hardships endured and tamed within its jurisprudence. I survived through these phenomena remarkably and the so called the intermittent RMAF Sibu Detachment from 1981-1991.

  RMAF Sibu Detachment Camp is adjacent to Mas Airport.

Self at RMAF Sibu Detachment.

A Nuri helicopter (Sikorsky S61A) in silhouette at Sibu.

Nuri Helicopters at RMAF Sibu Detachment closed to Mas Airport.

The move for operation in Sibu.

The Operational Roll Call at Sibu.

RMAF helicopters in for the ground troops operational support at Sibu.

The 54th Malaysia Independence Day 31 August 1957

In remembrance of  54th Malaysia Independence Day
31st August, 1957.

 I always remember

They fought to glory

With heat and sweat

Little was known

Yet more to forget

Prosperity sowed and harvested.

To this very day of 31st August, 2011.

Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri 2011.

"Eid al-Fitr Greetings"
To all my blog readers wherever they may be.

The Penrissen Camp, Kuching - My Family Quarters 1981-1983.

Aerial view of the Penrissen Camp family quarters, Kuching 1982.

The Penrissen Camp is situated at the 8th mile intersection between Kuching and Serian, the Samarahan district border. It is about 2.5 miles to RMAF Base Kuching.

My SNCO family quarters at the Penrissen Camp 1981.

This was a tri-services family quarters known. It comprises of the Navy, Army and the Air Force, with several in house modern facilities for the armed forces families. Facilities such as NAAFI now PERNAMA, BAKAT, Post Office, Military Medical Center, sundry shops and etc. 

My wife and I at our quarters 1982.

I am married to Hasna Binti Haji Harun in 1980 and brought her and our son, Iswan Al Hakim to Kuching at the end of 1981.

Our one year old eldest son, Iswan Al Hakim 1982.

Our friendly neighbors from the Penrissen family quarters 1982.
(My wife at the back row No.1 from the right).

Kursus Dakwah Islamiah for ladies from BAKAT, RMAF Kuching 1981.
(At tea break - my wife wearing white scarf on front sitting 4th from the right).

My wife attended a course on Dakwah Islamiah held by Jabatan Agama Sarawak at the Brigade Camp, Kuching from 19-20 Dec,1981 and co-sponsored by BAKAT (Badan Kebajikan Angkatan Tentera),of RMAF Kuching. As for me, on my second tour of duty at RMAF Kuching, I was appointed as an Islamic Affair Officer representing the No.7 Squadron, RMAF Kuching from 1990-1992.  

My family quarters view from 'Pasar Dayak' 1982.

During my tour in Sarawak from 1981-1983, I lived in these SNCO family quarters provided by the Royal Malaysian Air Force, Kuching. Have to travel daily by military transport to RMAF Base Kuching, 8 miles away from the quarters via the 7th mile town and the Semanggor Camp before reaching the base.

The morning view at the Penrissen Camp 'Pasar Dayak' 1982.

You can get fresh vegetables, fruits, prawns, crabs, fishes and local foods here at reasonable price and I really love the Sarawak prawns when fried with onions and spices. Mostly during the off days, my wife and I will do the marketing at this place. The 'Pasar Dayak' started early in the morning and ended until about noon daily and the privileges were enjoyed by all the armed forces families within the quarters. 


Day by day went by so quickly as I could remember and it was in early 1983 I was temporarily called to be attached at MINDEF(Ministry of Defense) prior for my attending a course in USA. Responded by the news, my family and I have to evacuate  the family quarters and we finally left for Kuala Lumpur by an Air Force flight. From Kuala Lumpur, my wife and I decided to go home and stay with my parents for a while which we did. My family stayed in Sungai Petani until I completed my course abroad. Upon my graduation, I was transfered to RMAF Butterworth, and later bought a house and settled down in Sungai Petani, Kedah to this present day. 


The story that I am telling now happened nearly three decades ago, now my two own kids are all grown up and having their own family to their care by just leaving the two of us and continuing moving on but not as  energetic  as before but still surviving in Sungai Petani. Thank you Allah. We have only two sons the eldest, Iswan Al Hakim Bin Mohd Ismail graduated from University Utara Malaysia joined the MISC and he currently sailing around the world. While my youngest son Yusouf Al Matin Bin Mohd Ismail graduated from University Tun Hussein Onn joined as an engineer at PERO DUA Rawang, Selangor. Turning to my only two sons and their families, my wife and I, wishing them a forever lasting safety and happiness wherever they may be, as the world is known to be too short for a one time living. So leap forward and stretch for a good beneficial moderate life while time is still kind and permissible.


Now accompanied with my beloved wife Hasna, I feel very much in relief, after all the honest sacrifices to the country and religion and not forgetting as an responsible husband and parenthood alike. As for my late in-laws and both of my parents, my wife and I served them well during their hard trying time and may Allah bless them...Al-Fatihah.

Currently, I am now an independent Islamic mortician in my hometown, a non profit activity serving my community and conducting courses on Islamic funeral management. My Hand Phone No 013-4178600 and my e-mail address is  mohdismail49@gmail.com  and please look for my Islamic blog named "The Islamic Undertaker" or  http://islamicundertaker.blogspot.com

Kuching as photographed (1981 to 1983).

All photographs taken from 1981 to 1983 are Copyright Reserved.

My first visit and prayer in town - The Kuching Mosque.

Letter of appreciation from the mosque secretary Hj Ali Samson Bin Baki.

My family's first visit to Kuching Museum.

Strolling along Kuching Court House.

My family's favorite shopping place - The Kuching India Street.

The river crossing with Astana and Fort Magherita in vicinity.

RMAF Kuching Memoirs (Jan,1981 to May,1983).

RMAF No7 Squadron, Kuching's.
( I was an aircrew sergeant when posted here).

The No7 Squadron Aircrew Lounge Mascot
(Aircrew lounge for members, guests and visitors).

The No7 Sqn Base Defense Guards.
(Always felt safe...thanks to these young men).

Self by the Photo Section of RMAF Kuching
( Thank you Sgt.Jaafar of the photo section for your keen advisory on technical photography delivered).

From a self taught photographer to an Air Force Photo Interpreter.

In 1981, it was here my interest in aerial photography started in RMAF Kuching. I personally owned two Nikon FM2 SLR cameras c/w motodrives, a Nikon F2 SLR camera, and severals lenses thats my work horses and occasionally conducting workshops in aerial photography. In 1983, I was selected and sent by the RMAF to study photographic imagery in the United States and then became a Photo Interpreter at the newly established Reconnaissance Squadron of the No11 Sqn RMAF Base Butterworth until 1988. 

*  Visit my blog dated July 4, 2010  "Aerial Photography".

RMAF Base Kuching ASF Hangar.

(ASF - Aircraft Servicing Flight).

RMAF Kuching hangars(Center) and MAS Airport(Right)

RMAF Kuching S61A Sikorsky(Nuri)
(We are ready for any mission tasking).

RMAF Kuching AlouetteIII helicopter.

In the foreground was the old Kuching MAS Airport.

AlouetteIII on a floatation role 1982 (Self).
(I felt like a boat when landed on the lake).

RMAF Kuching Refuel Bowsers.

(All aircrafts considered grounded without these refueling trucks).

RMAF Kuching Sergeant's Mess.
(The only bachelor's living quarters and venue for social functions).

One of the RMAF Kuching social funtion
photo taken between (1981-1983).

Photo from third left to right: Sgt.Saian(Pay Section), Self(Aircrew), Lt.M(U)Toharudin(DAMO),
Flt.Sgt.Ramly(Supply), and the last ninth Cpl Nikmat(Supply). 
(My apology for not remembering rest of the names shown on this photo).

Kuching Runway 07 and 25 shared by both Mas and RMAF.
("Kuching Tower..Badak91A..Final 07").

Kuching Runway 25.

RMAF C130H aircraft parking at the old Air Movement 1983.

MAS F27 and B737 aircrafts parking at Kuching Airport.

Kuching Airport as in 1983.
(Now occupied by the RMAF).

Mas aircraft taxing while awaiting Kuching's new airport being built.

Taxing for the old airport

Mas aircraft taxing a beam of the RMAF hangars.
(The building far right was the RMAF Air Movement Section 1983).

Kuching International Airport under construction.

New Kuching's International Airport scheduled for completion in July,1983.

By May,1983 I left RMAF Kuching with my family for Kuala Lumpur. It was in Mindef that I have to do the necessary documentations prior leaving for The United States. Lots of documentations to be done at Mindef, such as the Immigration Office, the US Embassy, the Bank Negara, and the personnal clothing preparations. I left for US on the 3rd June, 1983 morning via Subang International Airport. 

* Visit my blog dated February 1, 2011 "To United States of America".