The Kalabakan incident happened on 29 December 1963 at an outpost in Tawau, Sabah, North Borneo. Members of C Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (3 RAMD) were ambushed by alleged volunteers of the North Kalimantan Army whilst performing their Maghrib prayer, around 9 pm to 9.30 pm. They repelled the assailants, helped by police force, the Sabah Home Guard and Kalabakan villagers. The commander of 3 RAMD, Major Zainal Abidin bin Haji Yaacob, unfortunately died in the attack. It resulted in the death of eight men from 3 RAMD, with 18 others injured.
The heroes that perished were:
- 5415 Major Zainol Abidin bin Haji Yaacob
- 11471 LCpl Ismail bin Mat
- 13960 LCpl Abdullah bin Abdul Rahman
- 11245 Pte Abdul Aziz bin Abdul Ghani
- 11509 Pte Mohamad Zain bin Yaacob
- 13784 Pte Ismail bin Mansor
- 14447 Pte Yusof bin Sulong
- 14469 Pte Shamsuddin bin Yassin
Salina Christmas 