The Straits Times
Published in 21 August 1986
Page: 6
A Day Of Choppers, Fire Power Petro-Link , Family Tea And Dinner Talk.
Bandar Seri Begawan - It was a power packed day for Mr Lee Kuan Yew in Brunei yesterday. There was air power, fire power, oil power, woman power plus the force that comes with a close relationship.
The Prime Minister's first engagement was a short helicopter hop from the capital to the Binturan live firing range on the west coast.
Though the listed on the official programme, the Sultan of Brunei was there too. He was in his element, dreamed in battle fatigues with an automatic pistol on his hip.
Mr Lee and his ministers and officials flew in two Singapore military Super Puma choppers. The Sultan piloted his own Royal helicopter. The 10 member Singapore media group flew in a Bell helicopter of Singapore's 123 Squadron.
Three AMX 13 tanks and three M113 armoured personnel carriers went through their paces for the VIPs. 'It is actually not a demonstration. It's a live firing for my guys," said Lt Col Malcom Alphonso, commander of the Singapore troops training in Brunei.
The firing of the tanks' cannons jolted human hearts as it shook the hilly the terrain and threw up flame, smoke and earth. Then it was over and the Sultan was invited to try a Singapore made machinegun.
As they walk over to where the Ultimax light machinegun were, the Sultan said to Mr Lee: "Will you fire?"
" I will try!" I haven't fired one yet", said Mr Lee.
Holding the gun to his
hip, the Sultan fired long bursts and brought down the body size target about 100 meters away. "How's that! Said Mr. Lee. "Both went down!" There was applause.
"You try," the Sultan said. Again Mr Lee's response was "I'll try".
Mr Lee was told by am army officer he must lean forward a bit. He, too, held the gun to his hip, firing few bursts. The targets fell. There was applause.
"You fire so many (bullets), you must get some (targets), Mr Lee said.
Then he turned to acting Minister of Trade and Industry, who is also Minister of State (Defense), Brig-Gen (Res) Lee Hsien Loong.
"Have a go, Loong," Mr Lee said to his son. *Let's see whether you use less (bullets)."
Brig-Gen Lee brought the gun up to his left shoulder. Someone exclaimed in suprise, and someone said: "The BG is left-handed".
Instead of bursts, BG Lee fired single or double shots. The gun jammed because of a too hot barrel. A quick switch. More shots. Then bursts. Still he missed.
"Isn't it (the target) supposed to collapse?" BG Lee said, laughing at himself.
"It looks as if you're a bad marksman," Mr Lee said, teasing.
Then it was refreshment time, followed by a flight to Kuala Belait down the coast, a drive to Seria the oil town and a briefing on the big money petro-industry, tea outside the capital with the Sultan's second wife and dinner with one of the Sultan's brothers.