Son Of Late Rmaf Pilot Follows In Father's Footsteps As Soldier

PORT DICKSON, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Despite the tragic loss of his father, Major C. Kayamboo, an RMAF pilot who died in a 2016 plane crash, 20-year-old K. Indiran has followed in his footsteps and become a soldier.

Indiran was among 1,144 recruits who successfully completed their training for the 200/2024 series at the Army Basic Training Centre (PUSASDA) here today.

As the eldest of four siblings, Indiran shared that losing his father at the age of 12 taught him to mature quickly and take on the responsibility of caring for his family.

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“There were times during training when I considered giving up because it was incredibly tough. But I pushed through because I wanted to join the Army for my family and become a soldier like my father,” he said.

“I still remember my father’s advice on not to worry about what others say and to work hard to achieve my goals. I wanted to join the Air Force like my father, but since I didn’t meet the qualifications, I enlisted in the Army,” he told reporters here today.

Indiran aspires to further his studies and become a military officer with hopes of joining the Army Aviation Unit.

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Meanwhile, his mother, S. Usha, 50, expressed immense pride in her eldest son’s achievement despite the pain of losing her husband. As a single mother, she found the support of her family crucial in overcoming the hardship of raising her children alone.

“It was very difficult to accept the loss of my husband while raising young children, but our family’s support made us stronger. I encouraged my son to join the Army like his father, who was a principled man dedicated to his country,” she said. 

Usha hopes her children will be responsible not only to their family but also in their service and loyalty to the nation.

Major Kayamboo tragically died in a 2016 when a Royal Malaysian Air Force Beechcraft B200T crashed near the Butterworth Air Base in Penang after departing from Subang Air Base.

-- BERNAMA