In the monsoon period of November in 1980 when I was working
at the Institute for Medical Research, I was sent by the Malaysian Government,
the Ministry of Health and the International Red Cross to probe into complaints
by the UNHCR and International Red Cross about the health, nutrition, and
social conditions of the Vietnamese refugees in camps in Pulau Bidong off Kuala
Terengganu.
Held Up, Rough Seas:
I was held-up in Kuala Terengganu for 3 days because of the
rough sea conditions in the South China Sea, and our huge boat – literally a
ship was not allowed to venture out. We were not allowed to go to Pulau Bidong
because of the monsoon.
On the 4th day, we were allowed to set sail when
the weather was ‘claimer’ It was relatively ‘claimer’ according to the
authorities, but not to all the passengers
- UNHCR , International Red Cross officials,
Australian, New Zealand and other
international Immigration officials, sick Vietnamese, doctors , health
workers, and myself on that ship.
Calm Sea ?
On the 4th ‘calm’ day we set sail. I could see huge, huge waves pounding the
rocks and spraying waters 10-20 metres high into the air on K Terengganu beach
I boarded the ship. It was no joke seeing such angry waves and was asked to board
that ship.
I remember the 1-2 hours journey to Pulau Bidong was a
nightmare for me. The inky blue waters
below just lifted the entire ship up and down at least 4 storeys high. When we
were at the crest of the waves, I could see the tough of the waves far – some
30 to 40 metres below me. The ship was rolling from side-to-side, and we were
tossed about on the deck
Everyone, including the Vietnamese captain of those boat s
who brought the refugees here, and those very tough and tall Australian
immigration officers and all the international workers were all down with
motion sickness.
Kinetosis and
Vertigo:
By the time we arrived at Pulau Bidong the sea was much, much
calmer probably the island buffeted and sheltered the surrounding costal waters
against the rough open seas outside. When I arrived at the island, I was so sick
that everything around me was as if in motion, and even the solid ground I was
on, was ‘bouncing’ up and down like the waves. I could hardly walk.
It was real bad vertigo for me and most of us. It affected my entire vestibular system and sense of motion. Had I known I would have eaten ginger, or take a dose of dimenhydrinate, cinnarizine or meclozine.
It was real bad vertigo for me and most of us. It affected my entire vestibular system and sense of motion. Had I known I would have eaten ginger, or take a dose of dimenhydrinate, cinnarizine or meclozine.
Some of the refugees who were sent back to the island after
treatment at K. Trengganu Hospital had to be carried on stretchers from the
jetty back to their camps.
My Compassion:
I really pitied them. How they must have suffered in their
treacherous journey from Vietnam to Malaysia in their small rickety boats over
the rough South China Sea exposed to the
sun, rain, thirst, hunger and the merciless pirates who robbed, raped, murdered
and threw most of them overboard.
Many, many of them, especially women and children could not make it. Most died on the way. As a Christian, I remember constantly praying for them almost night for their safe journey as I read about their ordeal daily in the newspaper. My heart reached for them as I earnestly prayed.
Many, many of them, especially women and children could not make it. Most died on the way. As a Christian, I remember constantly praying for them almost night for their safe journey as I read about their ordeal daily in the newspaper. My heart reached for them as I earnestly prayed.
I thought about this how rough the sea was even in a very
big boat – a ship in fact. It was just a short journey from K. Trengganu to
Pulau Bidong. But I was sick all over by the
time I reached the island. What about those Vietnamese refugees who journeyed over the stretch of
waters from Vietnam to Malaysia in the open South China Sea during the monsoons? How they must have
suffered. I feel so sad for them even as I pen this recall.
Thank God many of them arrived in Bidong Island safely even
though they were staying in deplorable and very congested camps with scant
fresh water supply and very poor food. Water
had to be shipped from the mainland to the island once every two days.
I was not alone:
I did not go to Pulau Bidong alone. Although the island
belongs to Malaysia, no Malaysian was allowed to go there at that time due to
the refugee problem except officials such as security personnel, doctors,
health and social workers and others assigned by the Government for official
duties. It was a highly restricted area. Of course Pulau Bidong is no longer a
refugee island, and anyone can go there now.
At that time I was not alone. I was accompanied and assisted
by two medical assistants and a lab attendant. We were then joined on arrival by
other doctors and nurses from Vietnam, the International Red Cross Society,
Malaysian Red Crescent, and United Nations
High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) officials
who helped us with my study and interpretation.
Thinking back now, I was very fortunate to be
asked to go there at the request of the International Red Cross to the Government to study the nutrition, health and social problems there. It was quite an experience for me.
Two weeks:
I cannot recall exactly how long I was in Pulau
Bidong, but I think I spent about two weeks there working among the refugees. There
must be about 4000 to 5000 Vietnamese refugees scattered among the many crowded
camps. Fresh water was a big problem. Even though several very deep wells were
dug, either no water came forth, or the water was salty. Fresh water had to be
brought in by ship once every two days.
I was very guilty:
I was given a very clean and neat quarter away
from the camps to stay all by myself. It was supplied with clean, fresh and
abundance of tap water in my bathroom. I felt very guilty over this since except
for selected Malaysians and international staff working there, the rest of the
refugees were all crowded together in so many camps with hardly any clean
water. They were not allowed to go anywhere near where we stayed, although I
would not mind if they do. I felt so sorry for them, and how
lucky we were as Malaysians.
Clinic and small shops:
The International Red Cross and UNHCR set up
a clinic and a Christian mission for the refugees, and there were Vietnamese
doctors, nurses, and social workers managing them. Their health, social,
psychological and spiritual problems were far too many. I really took
compassion on them as I went around their camps to meet and tried to console them.
They were extremely happy to see me.
The refugees even have a small primary school
for their young children and even sewing classes for their women folks. They
even set up small shops to sell small food and other necessary items. They even
have a small post office to receive letters and money, or to send letters back
to Vietnam or to their relatives already settled in other countries.
A Boat Ride to Sumatra is nothing:
Now recalling those years in just a short trip from K Trengganu to Pulau Bidong over South China Sea during a monsoon period in November in 1980, the proposed boat ride from Minyak Beku to Selat Panjang over completely sheltered Straits of Malacca between Malaysia and Sumatra is nothing I believe.
So why do you e-mail buddies keep writing about choppy seas to Selat Panjang in your mails?
jb lim
Memoirs of the 1970s and 80s
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