November 2, 1964. In a secret, pre-dawn operation, Malaysia airdropped two-and-a-half million leaflets into Indonesian forward bases, which stretched in a wide arc from the Rhio Archipelago, South of Singapore, to Pulau Rupat in the Straits of Malacca. This marked the first occasion since Confrontation began in 1963, on which Malaysia had carried retaliation into the enemy camp. "The intention behind these leaflets," explained an emergency communique "is to give the widest information to those Indonesians who are likely to be sent in the future to Malaysia, so when they come here, it will not be within their right to deny their knowledge of the purpose for which they are sent."

The leaflets -- despatched from an RMAF Herald escorted by RAF fighters -- bore a message from surrendered Indonesian paratroop leader 2Lt T. Soetikno, warning any of his countrymen earmarked for future invasion attempts not to be deceived by propaganda on the part of Jakarta. Acknowledging Indonesian airspace has been violated, Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman said: "Our mission was a peaceful one - not like theirs at Labis, when they sent men to kill us. They can take any counter-action," he continued calmly; "we are ready to meet it."

Extracted from New Straits Times
November 19, 1999