This is my story - 28

28 - Confrontation by Indonesia

In 1961, the island of Borneo was divided into four separate states - Kalimantan comprising four Indonesian provinces located in the south of the island. In the north, separated from Kalimantan by a border some 1000 miles long were the Sultanate of Brunei (a British protectorate) and two British colonies—Sarawak and British North Borneo (which was later renamed Sabah).

As a part of its withdrawal from its colonies, Britain moved to combine its colonies on Borneo with the Federation of Malaya (which had become independent from Britain in 1957), and Singapore (which had become self-governing in 1959) to form Malaysia.

President Sukarno opposed the move. His argument was that Malaysia was a British puppet state, and that the consolidation of Malaysia would increase British control over the region, ‘threatening Indonesia's independence’ so he claimed. So he began his “konfrontasi” – an undeclared war over the future of Borneo.

Philippines also made a claim for Sabah, (British North Borneo) arguing that it had historic links with the Philippines through the Sulu archipelago.

North Borneo and Sarawak, anticipating a pro-Malaysia result, declared independence on the sixth anniversary of Merdeka Day 31 August 1963 before the outcome of the vote were reported. The Indonesian government saw this as proof of British imperialism.

President Sukarno saw the formation of Malaysia as an obstacle to his dreams of a Malay empire covering Malaya, Philippines and Indonesia. The Philippine president was not initially opposed to this idea but, while the Philippines did not engage in hostilities, they did break off diplomatic relations with Malaysia.

We lived in Kuching during these so called confrontation days. When it came to our Annual Appeal, I volunteered to be the one to go to the towns bordering Indonesia and suggested our reinforcement officers should just keep within the city. It would be unsafe for our overseas officers to venture to those areas. The others very reluctantly agreed to this suggestion. A Caucasian would be very conspicuous in the villages bordering Indonesia.

I was doing the Lord’s work and surely I could rely on His protection. We did not have Red Shield Industries or Thrift Shops in those days and we totally depended on grants from the Government, Command Headquarters and locally generated income through programmes like sewing, carpentry, kindergarten and donations

The Boys’ Home generated income from the sale of furniture from its carpentry shop. The Children’s Home residents did sewing and embroidery work for sale. The two Homes also received Government grants. Corps (church) income came from what we term in Salvation Army terminology ‘cartridges’ – tithing and free will offerings from our soldiers and friends, plus income generated from the kindergarten. We raised a substantial amount through the Annual Appeal and Annual Sale of work to support our work in the three centres.

One day the Police and welfare officer brought an Indonesian youth to our Home. He had wandered crossed the border illegally and was apprehended and brought to our Home. His name was Isa (in Malay meaning Jesus). Isa was a big boy, very simple, perhaps naïve in his ways. We had to ensure he did not run away from the Home so the boys took good care of him.

He would appear in the garden or even for his meals in his pyjamas. It was his favourite garment. He claimed that my wife had given it to him. I was puzzled as my wife did not hand out clothes to the boys; that was done by the staff. Later on in conversation, I discovered he was under the impression that all the ladies working in the Home were my wives! As a Muslim he thought I had four wives!

It was great working with the boys in the Home. Every evening after their bath, my wife would see to the little boys before they went to bed. She would give them their medicine and attend to their wounds or scratches. They loved the attention given them.

When people have to work closely together for a common purpose they develop feelings towards each other. Team work requires mutual trust, openness and support. We all looked to Brigadier Elsie Willis, a very saintly lady as our leader. In all my years working in The Salvation Army, I have never experienced a better team of officers than the one in Kuching. Thank God for such comradeship as we worked to ‘save souls, grow saints and caring for suffering humanity.’

Well, we were happy in our new appointment and were making plans to improve the Home and the welfare of the boys under our care. Then suddenly much to our surprise we received a telegram from Headquarters – “Farewell orders – appointed to Penang Boys’ Home. Spencer.’

The Officer Commanding, Lieut. George Spencer in the letter that followed informed us that Captain and Mrs. Keith Sharp from UK would be succeeding us some time after May 1965 and in the interim, Major Maria Scherpennisse, a Dutch officer would be appointed to run the Home.

So once again we had to pack our belongings and prepare to move back to Penang where we had left only three years earlier in 1962, this time to the Home and School.