LETTER | I was really touched by a scene in the movie “Paskal” now playing where one of the unarmed soldiers was murdered while on a UN peacekeeping mission.

He sacrificed his life for an innocent victim to ferocious terrorists who bombed the camp and tragically killed the heroic Joshua played by Henley Hii.

Paskal reminds me of my late father Allahyarham Haji Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusof, a man with real guts who served in a special force of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) in the early years of its formation. This was the world famous VAT69.

My father was one of the national warriors along with his other comrades who chose to be in a "short life profession" to shoulder the national mission of demolishing the communists.

I am very sure that not many of us know the history of VAT69 or even worse, do not realise its existence. I was not born yet when my father was called to join in the secret training for this force, but according to a story told by my mother, it was the toughest time for those whose ambition was to be in the army.

The training was dreadful and was conducted with the aim of gauging the trainees' mental and physical strengths. Only those with sturdy hearts, including my father, survived and were allowed to be called VAT69 commandos.

I am the proud son of the legendary VAT69 commando Aziz Ligat who was once shot in his belly while on a mission. Even though I wasn't there, sitting next to my father's bed in the hospital, I can feel now the heavy sorrow of my mother during that hard time.

Thankfully, he lived after that traumatic incident and was pensioned off in 1996 as a sub-inspector police of the PDRM.

This late hero is featured in a special book by the National Archives named Warisan Darah Perwira Sang Saka Biru together with other pioneers of the historic VAT69.

Films like Paskal do not just entertainment to viewers but also help portray the true meaning of the sacrifices of those who struggled to protect this prosperous land.

"National heroes" is a deserved title for these warriors who were willing to die honourably in battling the parasites that demonised the peace of the nation.

Their names may go unmentioned and unrecognised but their spirit will live on forever guarding every inch of this land till the end of time.

Real heroes are not only those who get applause during electoral campaigns to win people's votes. Real heroes are the ones who go through pain and bitterness to winning every battle for the sake of Malaysia, the precious land of us all.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.