THE legacy of a good man is not measured solely by his accomplishments but by the depth of his character and the impact he has on the lives of others.
Earlier today, Malaysians lost a legend when navy veteran Oliver Cuthbert Samuel, 89, passed away peacefully at his home in Chai Leng Park, Perai.
Oliver was the one who lowered the Union Jack at Merdeka Square, in front of the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, in the wee hours of the morning on Aug 31, 1957. He was also tasked to hoist the flag of the Federation of Malaya at the Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur some eight hours later.
The Ipoh-born officer together with two others, Lt Kom Mohd Sharif Kalam and the late Chief Petty Officer Seaman Awang Mohd Salleh, were tasked to raise the flag on that historic day.
His eldest granddaughter Gwendolynn Ann Jie Ling Samuel, 31, said that her grandfather was a family man who was genuine, kind, and caring.
“Ah Kong (grandfather) may be a navy man, but he had a soft spot for his family,” she said.
Oliver’s son Kenneth Pillay Samuel, 62, said his father loved and sacrificed for the country so that his children, grandchildren and all the children in Malaysia could have a place called home.
“He is a legacy to be remembered and a role model to us at home,” Kenneth said.
Annually, during the Merdeka period, Oliver would narrate his proud moments of hoisting the Federation of Malaya flag at the Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 31, 1957, to his family.
Oliver once told Buletin Mutiara the reason behind his decision to join the Malayan Naval Force in 1952, when he was 18.
“I was studying at a Government English school in Tapah a year before I joined the Malayan Naval Force.
“My friends and I heard about an ambush which took place in Tanjung Malim. Several security personnel and civilians were killed in the ambush by the communists that day.
“Their bodies were placed in front of the hospital, and it was a very painful sight.
“After witnessing that sorrowful tragedy, I decided to serve my country by joining the navy,” he was quoted.
He transferred his service to the Royal Malayan Navy in 1958, and again to the Tentera Laut DiRaja Malaysia in 1963.
Oliver met his wife Tan Gim Choo in 1959 and they got married a year later.
Tan followed Oliver to Singapore until he retired from the Royal Malaysian Navy in 1974.
Oliver then worked as an administrative officer, assistant manager and manager in three different security firms; before retiring at the age of 63 in 1997. He has also received numerous accolades for his service to the country.
Oliver left behind his wife, three sons and five grandchildren (four granddaughters and a grandson).
The wake service will be held at Oliver’s house at Tingkat Kurau 8, Chai Leng Park. A funeral mass will be held at SCIC in Perai at 11am on July 8.
For more details, call Kenneth at 012-4823862.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix courtesy by Noor Siti Nabilah and courtesy of Oliver’s family
