KUCHING: The late ASP Wilfred Gomez Malong was posthumously awarded with the ‘Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara’ (PJPN) by Sarawak police on Wednesday.
Sarawak Police Commissioner Datuk Mancha Ata presented the award to Wilfred’s son Isaac Alexander Gomez at Dewan Pahlawan, Sarawak General Operations Force (GOF) Headquarters here.
Mancha stated that the award was conferred to recognise Wilfred’s bravery, courage and heroism during a battle with Communist insurgents at Ulu Poi, Kanowit on June 20, 1973.
“In the battle, Wilfred and two other police officers managed to fend off the insurgents and emerged victorious despite being outnumbered.
“Following that, Wilfred was awarded the ‘Pingat Gagah Berani’ (PGB) from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in 1974.
“This makes him the youngest PGB recipient in Malaysia’s history at the age of 24,” he said in a press conference following the award ceremony.
Born in Betong, Wilfred retired from the police in 1980.
He passed away at the age of 63, on Feb 5, 2013 and was laid to rest at the Kampung Entingan cemetery in Kota Samarahan.
