On August 31, 1957, as the Bendera Persekutuan Tanah Melayu rose proudly into the sky for the very first time in Penang, one man had the honor of raising it: Ismail Abd Razak. Known to friends and family as Eshee, his name may not be found in every history textbook, but his contribution to Malaya’s independence story is one that deserves to be remembered.

Born in Penang in 1927, Ismail Eshee to those who knew him grew up during turbulent times. When the Japanese occupied Malaya during World War II, his schooling life changed drastically. The Japanese converted local schools into Japanese schools, and due to his talent for languages, Ismail excelled in Japanese. At just 16 years old, he was recruited into the Japanese Navy Volunteer Service.

Although his heart longed for Malaya’s freedom, Eshee worked with dedication. He endured harsh wartime conditions, food shortages, backbreaking labor, and the trauma of seeing forced laborers sent to the Burma Death Railway, many of whom never returned. His discipline and technical skills earned him certificates of merit from the Japanese, but deep inside, he never abandoned his hope for independence.

After the war, he joined the Royal Malayan Navy Volunteer Reserve, serving across Singapore, Sabah, and Sarawak. His naval service prepared him for one of the proudest moments of his life: being chosen to raise the national flag in Penang during the historic Merdeka celebrations of 1957. It was an honor he never expected, but one he carried out with dignity and pride.

But Ismail Abd Razak’s story does not end with independence. Beyond his service to the nation, he also became part of another unique community, amateur radio operators. Known on the airwaves as VS2FK (before Malaysia’s prefix changed) and later 9M2FK, he connected with radio amateurs locally and around the world. Just as he raised the Federation’s flag to symbolize Malaya’s place in the world, he also raised Malaya’s and later Malaysia’s voice on the global stage of amateur radio.

In 2017, Eshee, 9M2FK, became a Silent Key (SK), a term radio operators use with reverence when one of their own passes on. His life journey from surviving the Japanese occupation, to serving in the Navy, to raising the national flag, and to being a respected member of the ham radio fraternity reflects resilience, patriotism, and community spirit.

Today, as we fly the Jalur Gemilang, let us also remember Eshee Ismail Abd Razak whose quiet but significant acts helped shape our nation’s early story. And to the amateur radio community, his callsign 9M2FK will always echo with respect and remembrance.

Rest in peace, OM Eshee – Ismail Abd Razak, 9M2FK. You raised not only the flag, but also the spirit of a nation.