This tragedy happened in 23rd February 1950. At that time, Bukit Kepong was a very small town with only 20 small retail shops owned by Chinese. It was located beside the upstream of Muar river. This small town is connected through a walking path, scattered with village houses for about two to four square miles. Its population is only about one thousand people.

That early morning, was a tragic day for occupants of police barracks in Bukit Kepong. At around 5.00am, after a few police officers finished their morning Suboh prayers, mothers preparing warm milk for their babies, their homes were ambushed by gunshot of Communist army from all sides. The fierce gunshots include the use of at least five bren-gun.

The small number of police officers immediately defend by shooting back. During the attack, the Communist shouted to the policeman to surrender. There were no response from the policeman except more shooting back.

The Communist began apporaching nearer to the police barracks and start entering a few homes. The policeman manage to defend themselves for awhile. The homes for married couple policeman were also attacked. The wives also began to take the gun and fight along thier husbands until run out of bullets.

When there are no more gunshot coming for here, the Communist began to enter the homes and captured one of the policeman's wife. They shouted to the policeman by putting a gun to her head and threatened to kill her if they do not surrender. The wife and policeman answered by saying they would rather die than taken prisoner by enemy.

Another mother and a child in another home refused to surrender, and were shot dead point blank. The Communist burnt the married couple homes, most of the children died in the fire.

A drawing of the Bukit Kepong Police Station and how it was attached (Contributor: Paddy A L Bacskai : paddy13@iinet.net.au)

The Bukit Kepong police station were also under attacked, the policemen on duty continued defending their lives. A few of them were shot dead and no less were injured. However the Communist still could not enter the police station.

The Communist threw in a hand granade to the back of the police station and it started a fire.

It was already three hours of gun shot battle. A few of the policeman had to get out of the police station as it is getting hot from the fire. Most of them were shot before they could find a place to hide.

Some nearby villagers began to come for help. They used only shot guns, yet they managed to get the Communist moved back.

Before they moved back, the Communist managed to burn the village head office and a few other houses.

The battle ended around 9.00am.

REASONS BEHIND THE COMMUNIST ATTACK ON BUKIT KEPONG.

It was a clear act of revenge by the Communist on Bukit Kepong police officers. Following are the details.

About a week after curfew were declared, an unexpected battle occurred on the road between Kampung Tui and Bukit Kepong (now an area of a local school), between AP/HG Muhamad Said bin Alam and Saibun, with a group of three Communist, two Chinese and one Indian.

One Chinese Communist were killed, the other one got away. The Indian Communist, Sivasinggam was badly injured. He was captured and his gun confiscated. Muhamad Said in his colleagues had only short parang as weapons.

This resulted in the major revenge attack of the Communist on Bukit Kepong police station in 23 February 1950. The first gun shot was heard by village head Penghulu Ali from his house in Kampung Tui. He immediately gathered 13 AP/HG (Auxiliary Police/Home Guard) and headed to Bukit Kepong for assistance.

They went off early around 5.30am, but along the way they were ambushed by Communist with automatic machine guns. They could not provide earlier assistance and could not even move to approach nearer to the police station. They have to hold on until the day is brighter.

Another four members of AP/HG from Sungai Meda also arrived around 5.00am, but they also have to hold on at the outskirt of Pekan Bukit Kepong (Bukit Kepong town) which was quite near the police station. The Communist will shoot anything that moved.

If not because of the courage and determination of the AP/HG to provide assistance, the town of Bukit Kepong might have been destroyed and ended with the same fate as the police station, Penghulu's office (village head office) and a Marine Police motor boat.

The Communist were headed by Muhammad Indera with his member of 200 armed troops.

Muhammad Indera (Seated with a boy smiling behind him.) This is a photo of him while he was a religious teacher in Parit Stongkat Religious School, he was a resident of Bakri, a place in Muar. According to my father, he joined the Communist Party not because of the ideology, instead he was seeking refuge from the British, who wanted him for his anti-British activities. However, his act of heading the group of communist to attack Bukit Kepong Police Station was controversial. He got away after the attack on Bukit Kepong. After a while, he was caught by the British Army and brought to Ipoh and executed (hanged). (Photo taken from Jazlan's father old album. Muhammad Indera used to be my father's teacher in Primary Three)

During this time, the head of AP/HG of Johor state was Major Ibrahim bin Ismail (Retired General Tan Sri General Ibrahim Ismail) and Johor Head of Police was T.F. Niget.

A few days after the Bukit Kepong tragedy, Kampung Belatak was then attacked at the time villagers break their fast. A mother with her child in a cradle were killed. AP/HG Shahdan bin Md. Yunus we also killed.

AP/HG Mohd. Said Alam was the target of the Communist attack. He escaped death even though was fighting alongside Shahdan, as Penghulu Ali and a team of AP/HG from Kampung Tui arrived for assistance.