AS I sit here today in my twilight years, I can’t help but reflect on how far we have come: 56 years of nationhood (not counting from independent Malaya, but from when Malaysia was formed), and the 86 years of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

We started off “steel cable” strong in our relationships among the major races and the minorities that came together to form Malaysia in 1963. Sadly, one state left for its own nationhood as dictated by fate and the political scenario then. Never mind that, as we moved on with a greater resolve, to be one nation forged by a fierce determination to succeed.