A report from a 1955 Information Department monthly report describes Mr Wong's mission to document the visit of Sir Anthony Eden, then Foreign Secretary but later the Prime Minister of Great Britain.
Kuala Lumpur-born Micahel Wong Swee Lin, a Dept of Information cameraman in Kuala Lumpur, walked 14 miles through the jungle to photograph Sir Anthony Eden’s visit to a jungle fort.
The trek is here described in his own words:-
‘The brief visit to the Federation and Singapore by the British Foreign Secretary (Sir Anthony Eden) and Lady Eden after the SEATO Conference at Bangkok, was extensively covered by both the English and vernacular Press. As a photographer attached to the Federation Information Services, I had the fine opportunity of photographying these VIPs on a number of occasions. One trip was to a jungle fort – ‘Fort Langkap’ (one of the many establishment in the Federation), which is in the state of Negri Sembilan.
‘The head of our Press Division told me I would be required to walk to the fort (the name of the particular fort at that time was still ‘top secret’) as the helicopter laid on earlier was not available. The walk, I was further told, would be about 14 miles there and back and would take about two and half hours each way through the jungle.
‘A suit of jungle green and matching boots supplied to me previously came in handy. Having rendered myself as mobile as possible I bade farewell to my wife in the early hours on the morning of February 28, 1955 and with a Malayan Film Unit cameraman, left Kuala Lumpur or Seremban (some 42 miles away) by car and then proceeded to a small town named Tanjong Ipoh, 20 miles from Seremban, where we met the official party. This consisted of the British Advisior, Negeri Sembilan; the District Officer, Kuala Pilah; the Protector of Aborigines, Negeri Sembilan; the Officer-in-Charge Polce Operations, Kuala Pilah, and a police escort of 15 men. We all proceeded to another kampong (village) by Land Rover – a further 6 miles – until we reached a point where Land Rovers couldn’t go.
‘The forst stage of our walk started at about noon. Although it was then only seven miles to the fort the walk seemed endless. The first 20 minutes were agony as far as I was concerned. We encountered two very steep hills. My equipment weighed 15lb and being inexperienced in this type of climbing, I gasped for breath while trying to keep up the pace. While doing so a small insect flew into my mouth. At this stage another member of the party fainted (through exhaustion). We managed to revive him and after a short rest were able to proceed.
‘Leeches kept attacking us. They sucked blood and then dropped off, leaving minute holes with blood oozing out. They penetrate socks and even jungle boots. Around us was the incessant screech of jungle insects and birds and the soung of waterfalls or running water. The atmosphere seemed most eerie.
‘The jungle paths were gloomy but shady yet I sweated profusively. We waded through shallow streams and crossed rivers over improvised bridges made of felled trees, which were most slippery and difficult to cross. We also waded through a foot-deep swamp for at leats a mile with deep ravine on one side. This mud-wading was most fatiguing. It was not until 2.30 p.m., nearly 2 ½ hours’ walk, that the Fort loomed in sight.
‘I could see many aborigines happily bathing in the stream, near the fort and others busily cultivating crops. They had carefree and contented looks.
‘I was extremely tired but when served with a cup of tea it seemed never in my life had tasted anything so delicious!
‘Towards 3.20 p.m. the moaning sound of the helicopters bringing Sir Anthony Eden and party could be heard. They hovered into view and safely landed. The distinguished figure of the Foreign Secretary stepped out and, while my camera clicked, he spoke to the men on duty at the Fort – police, members of the 3rd Police Field Force; Royal Engineer sappers and staff of the Protector of the Aborigines Office. He had a friendly smile for all.
‘He watched the aborigines planting grass on the Fort’s new airstrip and keenly examined the traditional blowpipes and darts – and saw an aborigine use a blowpipe.
‘After about half an hour’s stay Sir Anthony Ece and party left ... We wasted no time in starting our journey back. Naturally the return was more tedious. But we plodded on and at last saw the Land Rovers. At Seremban our transport was waiting. Once on board I soon fell into deep sleep and awoke to find that we had arrived in Kuala Lumpur.’
