Astro captures 1965 incident when a Sikh police constable saves Malay boy from drowning

In 1965, a 21 year-old Sikh police constable unwrapped the turban he was wearing to save a 14-year old Malay student from drowning in a river in Parit Buntar, Perak.

“This is the first time I have ever used my turban to save a life,” Constable Sohan Singh was quoted in the Straits Times report entitled ‘Drowning boy saved by turban’ that appeared 23 January 1965.

Forty three years later, Malaysian-based broadcaster Astro recreates the incident for its ‘The Amazing Malaysians Heroes’ series under Astro Gempak.

The Sikh character is played by young finance graduate Karamdeep Singh.

The Straits Times report says:

PARIT BUNTAR: A policeman used his turban to save a boy from drowning yesterday evening in the Sungei Kerian here. Constable Sohan Singh, 21, was taking a stroll on the bank of the river when he heard a cry for help and saw a boy, Abdul Malik bin Awang, 14, struggling in the water.

He immediately took off his turban, threw one end to Malik and shouted to him to hold on to it. P.C. Sohan Singh hauled the boy to safety and, with the help of passers-by, pulled him ashore.

“This is the first time I have ever used my turban to save a life,” he said after the rescue.

Malik said he was fishing when “something big” grabbed his book and pulled him into the river. TURBAN – NOTE: The average length of a turban in six yards.

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