Online Encyclopedia
Military of Malaysia
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.
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History
Army
Infantry
The first formation of military force can be traced to the The Malay States Volunteer Rifles which existed from 1915-1936. The birth of Royal Malayan 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 1st 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 Feruary 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 50's
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.
Navy
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 (Malaysa is 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.
- Obervers in Iraq/Iran as part of UNIIMOG 1988-1991
- A Batalion of obervers in Namibia as part of UNTAG in 1989
- Obervers in Western Sahara as part of Mission International Des Nations-Unies Pour Le Referedum Au Sahara Occidental' or MINURSO 1991
- Obervers in Angola as part of UNAVEM II from 1991
- Obervers in Iraq/Kuwait as part of UNIKOM in 1992
- Obervers in Cambodia as part of UNTAC from 1992-1993
- peacekeeping in the 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.
- Obervers in Liberia as part of UNOMIL 1993-1996
- peacekeeping in Somalia as part of UNOSOMII by 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 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 died and 70 were wounded. Condor driver Private Mat Aznan Mat 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.
Perpective from a military personnel in The Liason http://coe-dmha.org/Liaison/Vol_3No_1/Feat04.htm
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 aircrafts 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
Military manpower - military age: 17 years of age
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 5,933,296 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 3,592,997 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 196,042 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $1.69 billion (FY00 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2.03% (FY00)
Additional Information and Links
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