PW 1 Temenggong Datuk Kanang anak Langkau, SP, PGB, PGBK (Rt) (1945 – January 3, 2013) was a Malaysian hero and soldier from the Iban Dayak community in Sarawak. He was in the Royal Ranger Regiment and Regimental Sergeant Major of 8 Renjer (8th Rangers) of the Malaysian Army. He was awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani and Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa medals from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ahmad Shah on 3 June 1981.
Kanang anak Langkau was born on 1945 in Julau, Sarawak. He joined the service with the Sarawak Rangers, then part of the British Army, as an Iban Tracker on 21 April 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He left the service after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer.
Following the death of one soldier in the Tanah Hitam, Perak to communists on 8 February 1980, the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers under the leadership of Kanang anak Langkau was tasked to seek and destroy the group of communists. They tracked the enemy over 11 days on terrain familiar to the enemy. On the evening 19 February 1980 at around 1500 hours his platoon managed to estimate the location of the enemies, who were close by. Their initial estimate of the enemy's location proved incorrect when they found a communications cord connecting the sentry outpost to the main force and the platoon was well inside the enemy's perimeter. Cord such as this one is usually connected to a bush or empty cans so that a sentry could use it to alert the main guerilla force. They had unknowingly penetrated the enemy's perimeter.
Kanang, 8 metres from the enemy sentry position, launched an attack to his right flank. It then became apparent from the enemy return fire that the main force was to the left. They assaulted the left and routed the enemy taking one casualty and killing five communists. One soldier was seriously wounded and Kanang himself took three rounds but survived and eventually returned to active duty. His bravery was shown during the battle, when he shouts the legendary battle cry; Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!, which means "As long as I live, I shall fight!", in Iban, which is also the Royal Ranger Regiment motto.[citation needed]
On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orang utan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong. The baby orang utan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.[1] He is currently as a Temenggong (Paramount Chief) of Iban people in Sri Aman, where he currently resides.
On 24 September 2011, he was conferred the 'Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang' (PGBK) (English: Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak), with the title of 'Datuk' by the Governor of Sarawak, in conjunction with Head of State 90th Birthday.
Kanang anak Langkau was born on 1945 in Julau, Sarawak. He joined the service with the Sarawak Rangers, then part of the British Army, as an Iban Tracker on 21 April 1962. He was absorbed into the Malaysian Rangers when Malaysia was proclaimed on 16 September 1963. He left the service after 21 years of service as a First Warrant Officer.
Following the death of one soldier in the Tanah Hitam, Perak to communists on 8 February 1980, the Unit Combat Intelligence Platoon of 8th Battalion Royal Rangers under the leadership of Kanang anak Langkau was tasked to seek and destroy the group of communists. They tracked the enemy over 11 days on terrain familiar to the enemy. On the evening 19 February 1980 at around 1500 hours his platoon managed to estimate the location of the enemies, who were close by. Their initial estimate of the enemy's location proved incorrect when they found a communications cord connecting the sentry outpost to the main force and the platoon was well inside the enemy's perimeter. Cord such as this one is usually connected to a bush or empty cans so that a sentry could use it to alert the main guerilla force. They had unknowingly penetrated the enemy's perimeter.
Kanang, 8 metres from the enemy sentry position, launched an attack to his right flank. It then became apparent from the enemy return fire that the main force was to the left. They assaulted the left and routed the enemy taking one casualty and killing five communists. One soldier was seriously wounded and Kanang himself took three rounds but survived and eventually returned to active duty. His bravery was shown during the battle, when he shouts the legendary battle cry; Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban!, which means "As long as I live, I shall fight!", in Iban, which is also the Royal Ranger Regiment motto.[citation needed]
On 15 April 2009, he made headlines after rescuing a baby orang utan from captivity with his friend, Tay Choon Yong. The baby orang utan was being handed to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre.[1] He is currently as a Temenggong (Paramount Chief) of Iban people in Sri Aman, where he currently resides.
On 24 September 2011, he was conferred the 'Panglima Gemilang Bintang Kenyalang' (PGBK) (English: Commander of the Order of the Star of Hornbill Sarawak), with the title of 'Datuk' by the Governor of Sarawak, in conjunction with Head of State 90th Birthday.
Death and Legacy
On 3rd January 2013, he collapsed while watching television at home in Sg Apong after complaining of chest pains, and immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at the age of 68.[2][3]
He was one of only a few number of people ever conferred the "Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa" and "Pingat Gagah Berani" whilst still alive. According to the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, he will be given a national burial. A wake ceremony will be held at Kuching Civic Centre on January 4th 2013 and later at St.Thomas Church on January 6th, and he will be interred at Warrior's Cemetery, Jalan Budaya on the next day.
On 3rd January 2013, he collapsed while watching television at home in Sg Apong after complaining of chest pains, and immediately rushed to the Sarawak General Hospital where he was pronounced dead at the age of 68.[2][3]
He was one of only a few number of people ever conferred the "Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa" and "Pingat Gagah Berani" whilst still alive. According to the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, he will be given a national burial. A wake ceremony will be held at Kuching Civic Centre on January 4th 2013 and later at St.Thomas Church on January 6th, and he will be interred at Warrior's Cemetery, Jalan Budaya on the next day.
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