Military of Malaysia
From Open Encyclopedia
| Angkatan Tentera Malaysia | |
|---|---|
| Military manpower | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Availability | males age 15-49: 5,584,231 (2005 est.) |
| Fit for military service | males age 15-49: 4,574,854 (2005 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | males: 244,418 (2005 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 known officially as the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) consists of three branches, the Royal Malaysian Navy, the Royal Malaysian Army and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. For the first time, the new Malaysian Coast Guard into bring on early 2006.
Contents |
Role of the MAF
The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) has the role of defending the sovereignty and strategic interests of Malaysia from all forms of threat.
- Responsible in helping the civilian authorities in overcoming all internal threats, preserving public order, helping in situation of natural disasters and always participating in national development programs;
- Sustaining and upgrading its capabilities in the international sphere in order to uphold the national foreign policy of being involved under the guidance of the United Nations (UN).
History
Army
- Main article: Royal Malaysian Army
Navy
- Main article: Royal Malaysian Navy
Image:Royal Malaysian Navy crest.gifThe 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
- Main article: Royal Malaysian Air Force
Image:RoyalMalaysian Airforce crest.gifIt 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 Russia. 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 including Brazilian Embraer EMB 145SA for RMAF. No recent news on the offer of Super Hornets by the US. However, the chief of RMAF has expressed interest in the procurement of the aircraft.
The Malaysian Army is getting 48 Twardy PT-91 main battle tanks from Poland. Last major procurement was the Astros MRLS from Brazil. MA is rapidly mechanizing its current inventory where about 113 Adnan IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) has been acquired by the army in 2004. The MA is also looking forward to strengthen its anti-armor capabilities such as the discussion of purchasing South African Rooivalk Attack Helicopter and the recent procurement of the Pakistani Bakhtar-Shikan Anti-armor missile launcher, installed on the Adnans.
The Royal Malaysian Navy placed a contract for 2 Scorpene attack submarines in June 2002, and are expected to enter service in 2008. 27 Meko 100 new generation patrol vessels are in delivery. 6 NGPVs (Next Genration Patrol Vessel) were also in manufacturing by a local defense company, although the delivery process was delayed due to the installtion problem of the control systems on the vessel.
In early 2004, the Ministry of Defense initiated compulsory National Service for 17 years old Malaysians. Participants fo the Malaysian National Service are chosen randomly.
Military branches: Royal Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force
