In the 1960s, Kuala Lumpur’s High Street Police Station was manned almost entirely by Sikh policemen. Photo: Datuk Dr Surender Singh Cheema
The Sikh community has long played a crucial role in the development of this country. In the old days, Sikh bullock carters provided pivotal transport services, which boosted early tin mining and rubber industries.
From a pioneer immigrant generation starting off as policemen, soldiers, watchmen (
jaga), milk men and mining labourers, many Sikhs in Malaysia are now professionals, academics, high-ranking civil servants and top businessmen.
“Able-bodied Sikhs also played an important role in policing British Malaya, North Borneo, and Sarawak and thereby contributed to the preservation of law and order, which was a prerequisite for economic development, ” says Ranjit Singh Malhi, 66, a historian and author.