Military of Malaysia

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**Malaysian Armed Forces**
Components

Malaysian Army
Royal Malaysian Navy
Royal Malaysian Air Force
History
Military history of Malaysia
Related information
Awards & decorations
Special forces
Council
National service

Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	males age 15-49: 5,584,231 (2005 est.)
Fit For service	males age 15-49: 4,574,854 (2005 est.)
Of age / year	males: 244,418 (2005 est.)
Military expenditure
Dollar figure	$1.69 billion (2000 est.)
% of GDP	2.03% (2000)
Source : CIA World Factbook 2006

The military of Malaysia is known officially as the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF, Malay: Angkatan Tentera Malaysia-ATM). It consists of three branches; the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN, Malay: Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia-TLDM), the Malaysian Army (Malay: Tentera Darat Malaysia-TD) and the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF, Malay: Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia-TUDM).

General (Jen) Tan Sri Dato' Sri Abdul Aziz bin Hj Zainal, is the Chief of Armed Forces Staff, Malaysia.

1 Role of the MAF
2 History
3 Theater of operations
4 Current developments
5 Additional Information and Links
6 External links

The role of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is to defend the sovereignty and strategic interests of Malaysia from all forms of threat.

It is responsible to assist the civilian authorities to overcome all international threats, preserve public order, assist in natural disasters and participate in national development programs.

It is also 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).

Main article: Military history of Malaysia

The main theaters of operations were within Malaysian borders, primarily to fight an insurgency led by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) in what was known as the Emergency. The only foreign incursion of Malaysian territory in modern times were in World War II by Japan (Malaya was then not a unified political entity and consisted of the British Crown Colony of the Straits Settlements, and the British protected Federated Malay States and Unfederated Malay States) and during the Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation by Indonesia under the leadership of President Sukarno. Operations on foreign soil have mainly been peacekeeping operations under the auspices of the United Nations.

First Emergency (1948-1960)

An insurrection and guerrilla war of the Malayan Races Liberation Army organised by the CPM against the British and Malayan administration.
Congo Peacekeeping Mission (1960-1962)

A contingent of 1,947 personnel were dispatched as part of the United Nations Operation in the Congo or ONUC. This contingent was known as the Malayan Special Force to the Congo and their experiences there were later recounted through the drawings of the cartoonist, Rejabhad.
Sarawak Communist Insurgency (1963-1990)

An insurrection and guerilla war of the Sarawak Communist Organisation (from 1971, the North Kalimantan Communist Party or NKCP) against the British and Malaysian governments to establish an independent nation comprising the states of Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei. The insurgency ended when the NKCP signed a peace treaty with the Malaysian government in 1990.
Indonesia-Malaysia confrontation (1963-1966)

An intermittent armed conflict between Malaysia and Indonesia with skirmishes mainly occurring in Sarawak and Sabah in the island of Borneo. In 1964, armed raids were made on Peninsular Malaysia. Combat eased with the deposing of Indonesia's President Sukarno in 1965 by the Indonesian army and the conflict was declared over by both sides in 1966.
Communist Insurgency War (1967-1989)

A low level resurgence of insurgent activity by the armed elements of the CPM from sanctuaries in the Malaysian-Thai border. The insurgency was only ended after the CPM signed a peace treaty with the Governments of Malaysia and Thailand on 2 December 1989.
Iran/Iraq Border (1988-1991)

Participated as part of the UN Iran-Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG) to supervise the Iran-Iraq War ceasefire.
Namibia (1989-1990)

Contributed a battalion to the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) to supervise Namibia's elections and transition to independence.
Western Sahara (1991-present)

A contingent of observers under the Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to help implement a ceasefire between the Polisario Front & Morocco and help promote referendum on area's future.
Angola (1991-1995)

A contingent was sent under the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) to enforce the ceasefire in Angolan civil war.
Iraq/Kuwait Border (1992-2003)

A contingent was sent under the United Nations Iraq-Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) to monitor the demilitarized zone along the Iraq-Kuwait border, deter border violations and report on any hostile action.

(The rest of the entries below require a cleanup)

Observers in Cambodia as part of UNTAC from 1992-1993
peacekeeping in Bosnia-Herzegovina - from 1993 to 1998. A total of 8000 were deployed within the 5 years period, first with MALBATT, then with MALCON. Area of operations under UNPROFOR were at 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 1, formed primarily from 19 RAMD(Mechanised), also known as '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. Private Mat Aznan Awang was pothmously promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal and awarded the medal Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, the nation's highest gallantry award. In another incident, two Malaysian peacekeepers from Grup Gerak Khas was killed when their convoy approached the K4 roundabout in Mogadishu on their way to negotiate with a Somali warlord. They were killed when the attack on their convoy had intensified and had decided to draw fire away from the convoy. One Malaysian peacekeeper was wounded and captured by Somali militia. He was later released unharmed.
Observers in Mozambique as part of UNUMOZ in 1994
Deployed a contingent called MASMEDTIM/Malaysian Medical Team to Chaman, Pakistan to treat refugees from Afghanistan during the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001.
Deployed approximately a brigade-sized force on islands surrounding Sabah waters in Ops Pasir to prevent the recurrence of Sipadan kidnapping.
Deployed a contingent to Acheh after the tsunami disaster in 2004.
Deployed MASMEDTIM to Pakistan during the 2005 quake.
Deployed in Southern Philippines as a part of monitoring force agreed upon by both the Philippine Government and Moro Islamic Liberation Front/MILF.
Deployed in East Timor/East Leste together with Australian, Portuguese and New Zealand forces at the request of East Timor Government. The first team of 25 soldiers from 10 Para Brigade, Royal Intelligence Corp and Commando Regiment were deployed on a fact-finding mission before being reinforced by another 209 soldiers. (as at 27 May 2006)

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.

In the early 1990s, Malaysia undertook a major program to expand and modernize its armed forces. 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 coast of the state of Sabah.

Current procurements for the air force include 18 Su-30MKM with a possible additional 18, Augusta Westland A109 light helicopters for the army air wing while AEW&C platforms are being evaluated including Brazilian Embraer EMB 145SA for the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). The latest purchase was for 8 Aermacchi MB-339CM made in late 2006.

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 211 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 two Scorpene attack submarines in June 2002, and are expected to enter service in 2009. The submarines will be named KD Tunku Abdul Rahman (at its launching in October, 2007) and KD Tun Abdul Razak (to be launched in 2009), after the first two Malaysian prime ministers. The submarines will hence be called the Prime Minister-class.

Malaysia also purchased a second-hand Agosta submarine from France for training. Four NGPVs (Next Generation Patrol Vessel) out of a total requirement of 27 are being manufactured by a local naval shipyard in Lumut, Perak. The first two vessels, KD Kedah and KD Pahang have been commissioned into the navy in 2006. The two lead vessels were built and launched in Germany but outfitted in Lumut. The NGPVs are based on Blohm und Voss' Meko 100 design. The lightly-armed Kedah-class are the second biggest combat vessels in the navy after the two Lekiu frigates.

The Ministry of Defence was chastised in the 2006 Auditors-General Report which stated that the Kedah-class project was not only over-budget and could probably fail. The report stated that project originally fixed at RM5.35 billion (around US$2.1 billion) would now cost RM6.75 billion (around US$2.7 billion) although there is no confirmation on when the last four PVs will be delivered.

The audit report stated that the decision to award the contract to a local company, PSC-NDSB, which had no experience in major shipbuilding project and the lack of monitoring from the ministry, were the reasons for the fiasco. So far, the ministry had not responded to the report and the matter was only covered in passing by the local media, which highlighted other financial weaknesses in the government ministries and agencies. [1]

In early 2004, the Ministry of Defense initiated a compulsory National Service programme for 17 years old Malaysians. Participants of the Malaysian National Service are chosen randomly. Currently, only 20% of those eligible are inducted but plans call for this programme to eventually cover all 17 year olds.

In light of the increasing crude oil price worldwide, the military had volunteered in a pioneering programme to use biodiesel. By next year (2007), all diesel-type vehicle in the Malaysian Armed Forces will be using biodiesel consist of 95% diesel and 5% oil palm diesel.

During Defence Services Asia DSA 2006, Malaysia announced that it would buy the US made M4 Carbine service rifle to replace the Austrian made Steyr AUG service rifle for all three Malaysian Armed Forces services. This deal has been finalized, with the Congress giving their approval for Malaysia to license-built the rifle in-country. The first batch is expected to be receive by year 2008.

On July 18, 2007, five days after the wreckage of a Nuri (Sikorsky Sea King S-61A4) helicopter was found near Genting Sempah, Pahang, Defense Minister Najib Razak announced that the Malaysian government will call soon for an international tender for new helicopters to replace the aging fleet. It is reported that the tender will be out in the first week of November 2007. Contenders of the helicopter tender are rumoured to be Eurocopter EC 725 and AgustaWestland EH101^[1]

The chosen helicopter, according to Najib, will be in service with the RMAF in 2010 by which time the Nuri will be retired.