The schoolteacher who helped build a multiracial army
Peter Ng Boon Hwa was just 21 when he came across a newspaper advertisement calling for officer cadets. It wasn't just any recruitment notice — it was a quiet turning point in the making of a multiracial army.
The Federation Regiment Bill had just passed on July 3, opening the door for non-Malay youths — for the first time — to serve in defence of a still-forming nation.
Two years earlier, Peter had tried to enlist, but options were few: the Malay Regiment or the British Army. Neither path was suitable for someone like him. Now, in the flicker of an ad, that barrier was gone. And he could step up to answer the call of duty.
It wasn't a decision made lightly. In Chinese families, cultural warnings loomed large: good sons don't join the army... for they may return in a wooden box.
But Peter chose to go anyway. He left the safety of the classroom for the unknown of the parade ground, trading books for boots, guided not by rebellion, but by a quiet sense of duty and the hope of something larger — the birth of a nation.
After a rigorous selection at the Malay Regiment headquarters in Port Dickson, Peter was eventually among the 12 young men handpicked by General Sir Gerald Templer, the British high commissioner of Malaya, to serve as an officer in the new regiment.
They would become the founding pioneers of what was to be Malaysia's multiracial armed force — a group history would come to know as the "Templer Superb-12".
On Aug 13, 1952, the officer cadets were personally welcomed by Templer at The King's House in Kuala Lumpur.
From Port Dickson's 5th Mile Coast Road to Eaton Hall in Cheshire, England, their journey began in earnest.
After basic training in the Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit (Pre-OCTU) in Port Dickson, Peter was sent to England for further training.
On Sept 5, 1953, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and posted to the 1st Federation Regiment.
His tall and commanding presence earned him a rare honour — appointment as aide-de-camp (ADC) to Lt-Gen Sir Harold Briggs, commander of the Federation Division. He served with distinction before returning to active duty as a troop commander in his regiment.
In the mid-1950s, the Emergency was raging. On May 25, 1956, Peter was selected for a jungle warfare course at the elite Far East Land Forces Training Centre. He would later bring these battlefield skills to real-life conflict zones and beyond Malaysia's borders.
In 1960, he completed his Company Commander's Course and was promoted to major in the 2nd Royal Cavalry Regiment, commanding a recce squadron.
A year later, he was deployed to Belgian Congo as part of the Malayan Peacekeeping Force, which was tasked with restoring law and order during one of Africa's most volatile civil conflicts.
Yet, even amid the chaos of war in the country, Peter remained a soldier of spirit and adventure.
In true "soldier of fortune" fashion, he fulfilled his boyhood dream of going on a safari and returning home with two massive elephant tusks that would later be mounted at his regimental headquarters as a symbol of valour and morale.
By the late 1960s, Malaysia faced renewed communist threats. After completing his Senior Officers' Course at the Army War College in Mhow, India in 1967, Peter was transferred to the Royal Rangers Regiment as the second-in-command.
He would serve on the frontlines during the second Emergency (1968-1989), once again defending his homeland in the dense jungles of Malaysia.
His leadership extended beyond national borders.
One of his career highlights was training south Vietnamese troops in counter-guerilla warfare at the request of the United States army to resist the communist advances during the Vietnam War. It was a mission shaped by the global urgency of the Cold War and the "Domino Theory" propounded by then president Dwight D. Eisenhower. Peter rose to the occasion with quiet resolve and duty.
LIFE OF SACRIFICE
In June 1980, after decades of service, Peter was promoted to lieutenant-colonel and appointed commanding officer of the 304 Infantry Battalion (Territorial Army).
His task was to secure the newly constructed East-West Highway linking Grik in Perak to Jeli in Kelantan.
Stationed on a hilltop overlooking Pulau Banding and its bridge, he led with vigilance and calm assurance. I had the honour of visiting him in April 1981 — his camp, maintained by my army engineers, stood as a testament to his enduring commitment to service.
Though Peter retired on Aug 26, 1983, after 31 years of distinguished service, his influence never waned. Known affectionately as "Peter Boon" by his peers, he was admired for his humility, warmth and unwavering principles.
As a senior major for 20 years, he was more than just a rank — he was a moral compass, a decision-maker and a true officer of the nation.
I came to know him during my years at the Taiping Garrison, between 1978 and 1980, while overseeing the construction of 288 Class G married quarters.
Peter was the administrator then — a commanding figure who led not with noise or display, but with quiet authority, warmth and unwavering fairness. His presence was steady. His kindness unspoken, but deeply felt.
For his decades of distinguished service to king and country, he was awarded the Kesatria Mangku Negara (KMN) — a fitting honour for a man who gave so much, and asked for so little.
On March 1, 2020, Peter passed away peacefully at the age of 89 in Penang General Hospital, on what was poignantly the 87th anniversary of Army Day. He leaves behind five children — three sons and two daughters — and 12 grandchildren, a number that echoes the symbolic "12" of the Templer Superb-12, to which he proudly belonged.
Of that founding cohort, only two remain today: Lt-Gen Datuk Abdullah Samsuddin, 95, and Lt-Col Khong Kim Kong, 94. Their numbers may dwindle, but their legacy stands — etched in barracks and battlefields, in classrooms and parade grounds, and in the quiet courage of men like Peter.
As Malaysia marks Hari Pahlawan on July 31, we remember not just a soldier, but a pioneer. A patriot. An officer and a gentleman.
We salute you, Sir.
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After basic training in the Pre-Officer Cadet Training Unit (Pre-OCTU) in Port Dickson, Peter was sent to England for further training. On Sept 5, 1953, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant and posted to the 1st Federation Regiment. His tall and commanding presence earned him a rare honour — appointment as aide-de-camp (ADC) to Lt-Gen Sir Harold Briggs, commander of the Federation Division. He served with distinction before returning to active duty as a troop commander in his regiment. In the mid-1950s, the Emergency was raging. On May 25, 1956, Peter was selected for a jungle warfare course at the elite Far East Land Forces Training Centre. He would later bring these battlefield skills to real-life conflict zones and beyond Malaysia's borders. In 1960, he completed his Company Commander's Course and was promoted to major in the 2nd Royal Cavalry Regiment, commanding a recce squadron. A year later, he was deployed to Belgian Congo as part of the Malayan Peacekeeping Force, which was tasked with restoring law and order during one of Africa's most volatile civil conflicts. Yet, even amid the chaos of war in the country, Peter remained a soldier of spirit and adventure. In true "soldier of fortune" fashion, he fulfilled his boyhood dream of going on a safari and returning home with two massive elephant tusks that would later be mounted at his regimental headquarters as a symbol of valour and morale. By the late 1960s, Malaysia faced renewed communist threats. After completing his Senior Officers' Course at the Army War College in Mhow, India in 1967, Peter was transferred to the Royal Rangers Regiment as the second-in-command. He would serve on the frontlines during the second Emergency (1968-1989), once again defending his homeland in the dense jungles of Malaysia. His leadership extended beyond national borders. 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On March 1, 2020, Peter passed away peacefully at the age of 89 in Penang General Hospital, on what was poignantly the 87th anniversary of Army Day. He leaves behind five children — three sons and two daughters — and 12 grandchildren, a number that echoes the symbolic "12" of the Templer Superb-12, to which he proudly belonged. Of that founding cohort, only two remain today: Lt-Gen Datuk Abdullah Samsuddin, 95, and Lt-Col Khong Kim Kong, 94. Their numbers may dwindle, but their legacy stands — etched in barracks and battlefields, in classrooms and parade grounds, and in the quiet courage of men like Peter. As Malaysia marks Hari Pahlawan on July 31, we remember not just a soldier, but a pioneer. A patriot. An officer and a gentleman. We salute you, Sir.
