Military of Malaysia

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia
Military manpower
Military age	17 years of age
Availability	males age 15-49: 5,933,296 (2002 est.)
Fit for military service	males age 15-49: 196,042 (2002 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males: 2,273,324 (2000 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Percent of GDP	1.3% 2.03% (FY00)

This article concerns the Military of Malaysia

The Malaysian military consists of three branches, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Royal Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Contents

1 History 1.1 Army 1.2 Navy 1.3 Air Force 2 Theater of operations 3 Current developments 4 Additional Information and Links 5 External Link

History

Army

Infantry

The first formation of military force can be traced to The Malay States Volunteer Rifles which existed from 1915-1936. The birth of Royal Malaysian Army started when the Federal Council of Federated Malay States eventually passed the Malay Regiment Bill on 23 January 1933. This allowed the initial recruitment of 25 males for First Experimental Malay Company on 1 March 1933. Major G. McI. S. Bruce of the Lincolnshire Regiment was the first Commanding Officer. By 1 January 1935, the Experimental Company became The Malay Regiment with a complement of 150 men. A new batalion was formed on 1 Jan 1938 with the second batalion on 1 Dec 1941. The 1st Malay Regiment was famous for its defence of Opium Hill or Bukit Chandu. The ‘Battle of Opium Hill’ on 14 February 1942 involves 42 soldiers commanded by Lt. Adnan Saidi defending their position against the attack from the 18th Division of the Japanese Imperial Army under Lt.Gen. Renya Mutaguchi. After World War II, the number of batalions was increased to 7 in the early 50s.

Armour

The first Armoured Regiment was formed on 1 September 1952. The name undergoes a few transformation from Federation Reconnaissance Corps on 16 September 1967, Royal Malaysian Recon Corp in May 1979 to Royal Calvary Corp in December 1979 to finally to Royal Armoured Corp on 8 December 1986.

Army Corps and Regiments

The Royal Malaysia Army currently has 17 corps or regiments under its wing. They are:

1. Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja (Royal Malay Regiment)

The very first regiment of the RMA, the regiment, as its name suggests, only allow Malays to join. They also has they very own Mechanised Brigade as well as 2 rapid-deploy paratrooper brigades.

2. Rejimen Renjer DiRaja (Royal Rangers Regiment)

RRD is actually a multi-racial version of RAMD. Its primary task is to assist the RAMD and they specialised in almost aspect of the conventional warfare, just like RAMD.

3. Kor Armor DiRaja (Royal Armour Corps)

This is the place where the Malaysian Army unleash their heavy fists onto the enemy's face. The KAD will be receiving 48 Twardy PT-91M Main Battle Tanks from Poland, which will act as a force-multiplier, adding value to the current RMA's arsenal.

4. Rejimen Artileri Diraja (Royal Artillery Regiment)

RAD handles most of the tasks that were needed by the Army. Not only that it acts as support artillery fire, it also deals the threat from the sky.

5. Rejimen Semboyan Diraja (Royal Communications Regiment)

This regiment handles all communications and electronic warfare during the war. They also utilises the Early Warning and Detection System such as Radar.

6. Rejimen Gerak Khas (Special Forces Regiment)

All the elites, experts and specialists of various warfare gathers at here. It is also the home of the Royal Commando battalion that capable of conduct unconventional warfare or special operations without the restrictions of the terrain.

7. Kor Perkhidmatan Am (Royal General Services Corps)

This branch of RMA handles all paperworks and administration, as well as the financial management of the entire army.

8. Kor Polis Tentera Diraja (Royal Military Police Corps)

This branch of RMA trains Military Police army personnels that will serve as a disciplinary control of all army personnels within the country. They also provide the security services on every single army barracks's gateway.

9. Kor Kesihatan Diraja (Royal Medic Corps)

KKD trains medics and surgeon speciallists that serves as life savers on the battlefield. They also taking part in United Nation's Peace Keeping Operations where they will not only serve the RMA, but the refugees and civillians in times of need.

10. Kor Risik Diraja (Royal Intelligence Corps)

As its name suggests, KRD speciallise in nerve warfare, surveillance, spying, reconnaisance and counter-intelligence operations. they also filters the background of recruits when they first enroll in any training courses.

11. Kor Perkhidmatan Diraja (Royal Logistics Corps)

Ferrying of troops and military supplies are performed by this regiment.

12. Kor Ordnans Diraja (Royal Ordnance Corps)

KOD makes sures that all military supplies and ordnance are in good storage and maintains the security of the army's inventory.

13. Rejimen Askar Jurutera Diraja (Royal Mechanism Regiment)

RAJD is the place where it deals with demolition, forming bridges for transportation and also the repair of military infrastructure such as airbase runways or clearing obstacles in emergency situations.

14. Kor Juru Letrik dan Jentera Diraja (Royal Vehicles and Electical Servicing Kor)

KJLJD takes care of all vehicles and machinery of RMA and maintain their usabilityat all times.

15. Kor AGama Angkatan Tentera (KAGAT)

KAGAT perform religious services for muslim army personnels of RMA. They also provide counselling and conducting ritual prayers on the battlefield.

16. Rejimen Askar Wataniah (Territorial Army Regiment)

RAW forms the second line of defence of the entire Malaysia, formed by college students, professionals and civillians, they provide support for the regular armed forces of Malaysia and security services of key infrastrutures in times of conflict. They can also act as recon agents in times of need.

17. Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat (Army Air Squadron)

PUTD is the air support formed by a group of ex-RMAF officers. This newest squad provides air cover, transportation or ferry, limited air support and also air reconnaisance using helicopters.

Navy

The Royal Malaysian Navy originated from the Straits Settlement Volunteer Reserve Force formed on 27 April 1934 in Singapore. The formation of a Penang branch in 1938 saw its expansion. When Second World War broke out in 1939, the British strengthen its Naval Force in Southeast Asia by forming a unit was called the "Malay Section of The Royal Navy" to protect the security of Singapore and Federation of Malaya. This unit which consisted of 400 men underwent training at a training camp HMMS PELANDOK, a British Naval Base in Singapore. Expansion saw the unit increase to 1450 men during World War II. Due to shortage of funds, the British disbanded the force after World War II in April 1947. The Malayan Naval Forces was again created in 1948 in response to the Emergency with the loan of one landing ship and five fast surface launches from the Royal Navy. In 1953 HRH Queen Elizabeth awarded the Royal status to become The Royal Malayan Navy. The first vessel was a minesweeper called HMS 'Penyu' or Turtle. After independence, it was transferred from Singapore on 12 July 1958 as an independent sovereign navy. On 16 September 1963 it was renamed Royal Malaysian Navy in accordance to the formation of Malaysia.

Air Force

It was created in 1936 as Malayan Auxiliary Air Force, disbanded after World War II, reactivated in 1950. The passing of Air Force Ordinance by the Parliament on 2 June 1958 saw the creation of Royal Malayan Air Force. The first adviser was seconded from the Royal Air Force(RAF), Air Commodore A.V.R Johnstsone who became the first Chief of the Royal Malayan Air Force (RMAF). The proud few who formed the RMAF were Flying Officer Lim Heng Lip, Sergeant Subramanian, Corporal Othman Mohd Ismail, Corporal Wan Said, Corporal JD Parsley, Corporal Mahadeven, Senior Aircraftman (SAC) Surindam, SAC Md Noor, SAC Zainal, SAC Mohd Hussain and Junior Technician (JT) Ismail Ariffin.The first aircraft acquired for No 1 Squadron was Scottish Aviation Twin Pioneer which served RMAF for 12 years. It was named 'Lang Rajawali' by Tunku Abdul Rahman the first Prime Minister . With the formation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the name of the force was changed to "Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia" or Royal Malaysian Air Force".

Theater of operations

Majority of theatre of operation were within the Malaysian borders to fight Communist Insurgency during the Emergency. The only foreign attack on Malaysian soil in modern times were World War II by the Japanese (Malaya was technically a British colony) and Indonesia during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation of 'Ganyang Malaysia' initiated by President Sukarno. Operations on foreign soil were mostly peacekeeping under the auspices of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations (UNPKO).

• First Emergency - the Malayan Emergency in Malaya 1948-1960
• peacekeeping in Congo as part of ONUC in 1960-1962 - personnel sent were called Malayan Special Force for United Nations. Source of Rejabhad's cartoon in Gila-Gila.
• Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation 1963-1966. During the start of the confrontation, Indonesian armed forces launched small parties of regular and irregular soldiers to wage terrorist and propaganda actions in Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah), in 1964 parachuted into peninsular Malaysia and landed on beaches in Johor. In 1965 Indonesian army leaders staged a coup against Sukarno which then stopped the policy of Konfrontasi.
• Second Emergency - resurgence of communist activity in Malaysia 1968-1989. Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) restarted its aim to topple the government. Malaysian Armed Forces initiated multiple parallel operations which crushed the CPM and a peace treaty was signed on 2 December 1989 at Hatyai, Thailand. The CPM was represented by Chin Peng and Rashid Maidin while Dato' Rahim Noor and Dato' Megat Junid Megat Ayub represented Malaysia. The Second Emergency is declared over on 31 Julai 1960.
• Observers in Iraq/Iran as part of UNIIMOG 1988-1991
• A Battalion of observers in Namibia as part of UNTAG in 1989
• Observers in Western Sahara as part of Mission International Des Nations-Unies Pour Le Referedum Au Sahara Occidental' or MINURSO 1991
• Observers in Angola as part of UNAVEM II from 1991
• Observers in Iraq/Kuwait as part of UNIKOM in 1992
• Observers in Cambodia as part of UNTAC from 1992-1993
• peacekeeping in Bosnia-Herzegovina - from 1993 to 1998. 8000 strong MALBATT force within UNPROFOR posted in Konjic, Jablanica and Pazaric. MALCON was sent to participate in IFOR at Livno, Glamoc and Kupres. The final participation was with SFOR.
• Observers in Liberia as part of UNOMIL 1993-1996
• peacekeeping in Somalia as part of UNOSOMII by the 900-strong MALBATT 19 (Malaysian Mechanized Battalion #19) - 'The Fighting Tigers' in 1993. Commanded by Brigadier-General Datuk Abdul Latif Ahmad, MALBATT saw action in the Battle of Mogadishu where 32 Condor Armoured Personal Carriers (APC) with 113 personnel were sent to rescue 75 American servicemen. In the operation, 18 US soldiers were killed and 70 were wounded. Condor driver Private Mat Aznan Awang was killed by heavy machine gun fire. An RPG ripped apart his APC while eleven others were injured. Four Malaysian Condors were immobilised.
• Observers in Mozambique as part of UNUMOZ in 1994

Other limited participation under UNPKO are United Nations International Police Force (UNIPTF) since December 1995; United Nations Mission di Kosovo (UNMIK) since Jun 1999; United Nations Observer Mission di Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) since October 1999; United Nations Transitional Administration di East Timur (UNTAET) since September 1999 and United Nations Organisation Mission in Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUC) since February 2000.

18 Malaysian Armed Forces personnel have been killed during UN peacekeeping operations.

Current developments

In the early 1990s, Malaysia undertook a major program to expand and modernize its armed forces. This included procurement of F/A-18D Hornet and C-130 Hercules aircraft from the United States. Malaysia was also the first country in the world to have purchased warplanes from both sides of the cold war, when she also acquired MiG-29N Fulcrum from the USSR. However, budgetary constraints imposed by the 1997 financial crisis slowed military procurement. The recent economic recovery may lead to relaxation of budgetary constraints on the resumption of major weapons purchases. In October 2000 the Defense Minister announced a review of national defense and security policy to bring it up to date. This review will address new security threats that have emerged in the form of low intensity conflicts, such as the kidnapping of Malaysians and foreigners from resort islands located off the East Malaysian state of Sabah.

Current procurements for the air force include 18 Su-30MKM with a possible additional 10, Augusta Westland A109 light helicopters for the army while AEW&C platforms are being evaluated. No recent news on the offer of Super Hornets by the US.

The army is getting 48 Twardy PT-91 main battle tanks from Poland. Last major procurement was the Astros MRLS from Brazil.

The Royal Malaysian Navy placed a contract for 2 Scorpene (http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/scorpene/) attack submarines in June 2002, and are expected to enter service in 2008. 27 Meko 100 new generation patrol vessels are in delivery.

In early 2004, the Ministry of Defense initiated compulsory National Service. Malaysian National Service is compulsory for both male and female citizens, aged 17.

Military branches: Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force

Additional Information and Links

• Foreign relations of Malaysia
• Five Power Defence Arrangements

External Link

• Royal Malaysian Army (http://army.mod.gov.my/bm/)
• Royal Malaysian Navy (http://maf.mod.gov.my/)
• Royal Malaysian Air Force Museum (http://www.gtitec.com.my/af_museum/)
• Bases and Squadrons (http://www.scramble.nl/mil/6/tudm/orbat.htm)
• AIROD (http://www.airod.com.my)
• Perpective from a military personnel in The Liaison (http://coe-dmha.org/Liaison/Vol_3No_1/Feat04.htm)