Today on 18 December in 1989, 16 officers and men were killed when the Nuri Helicopter they were in crash-landed onto the river bank of Sungai Lundu, near Kg Kuala Bandang, Sarawak.
 Mej Jen Dato’ Mustaffa |
 Brig Jen Dato’ Hasbullah |
 Lt Kol Mohd Mustapha Kamal |
 Lt Kol Mohd Johari |
 Lt Kol Tunku Abd Aziz |
Amongst the 16 killed were:
1. Mej Jen Dato’ Mustaffa bin Awang, (51; RAMD), GOC 1st Infantry Division, based in Kuching, Sarawak.
2. Brig Jen Dato’ Hasbullah bin Yusof, (47; RAMD), Commander 3rd Infantry Brigade, based in Kuching, Sarawak.
3. Lt Kol Mohd Mohd Mustapha Kamal bin Mohd Yusof, (47; PDR), SO1 (Operations), HQ 1st Infantry Division, based in Kuching, Sarawak.
4. Lt Kol Mohd Johari bin Selan, (44; RENJER), Commanding Officer, 5 Renjer Battalion, based in Bau, Sarawak.
5. Lt Kol Tengku Abd Aziz bin Tunku Osman, (40; RAMD) Commanding Officer 13 Royal Malay Regiment, based in Kuching, Sarawak.
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Mej Jen Dato’ Mustaffa was to go to Kem Semantan to officially close a Combat Intelligence course and to meet the course participants. Due to the weather, the flight was delayed for about an hour before taking off. When the helicopter was in the Kg Kuala Bandung area, 60 km from Kuching, the weather turned bad with heavy rain, strong wind and lightening. The helicopter was forced to crash land, landed on the bank of the river mouth, killing all the 16 officers and men, including the helicopter pilot and crew.
Let us remember this day and the sacrifices these 16 officers and men had made, ending in their tragic death, 33 years ago. Al-Fatihah!
Prepared By
Lt Kol Dato’ Nawawi Mat Desa, (Bersara)
18 December 2022
