Malaysian Army
The army, highly experienced in guerrilla warfare, continued to be the dominant branch of service. The whole Malaysian army was trained in counter-insurgency. The army strength of 80,000 regular soldiers and the permanent force was supported by 40,000 reservists. The development of tactics, techniques and procedures for waging Counter-Insurgency (COIN) warfare was uppermost in the minds of defence planners of the post-war period.
Thus, when the dust settled in December 1989, the Royal Malaysian Army emerged as one of the foremost exponents of COIN in the world. The army's experience in counter-insurgency, brutally effective against the Malaysian Communist Party (KPM) and the North Kalimantan Communist Party (PARAKU), proves less relevant when viewed in the context of the armed forces' ability to defend the country's interests in the littoral areas such as the South China Sea.
Since its inception on March 1, 1933, the Malaysian Army (MA) has undergone several transformational processes. From a humble beginning as a counterinsurgency force fighting communist terrorists at the early stage of the nation’s independence, the MA transformed into a conventional force in the 1980’s in view of the threat posed by the Domino Theory.
Foreign observers estimate that in 2005 active-duty armed forces personnel totaled 110,000, with 80,000 in the Malaysian Army (Tentera Darat Malaysia). There were also 50,000 reserves in the army. The Malaysian Army was organised into four Divisions under the Field Army Headquarters. The 2nd, 3rd and 4th divisions of the army are based in Peninsular Malaysia and the 1st Division was based in East Malaysia. The Grup Gerak Khas (Special Forces group), 10th Parachute Brigade and the Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat (army aviation) are independent formations and directly subordinate to the Chief of the Malaysian Army. The Malaysian Army also had 17 Corps or Regiments. These are grouped into the Combat Element, the Combat Support Element, and the Support Element.
The Malaysian Army in the early 1980s was organized according to the conventional pattern into 12 infantry brigades under the operational command of four divisional and one corps headquarters. The infantry brigades were composed of 37 battalions, 26 of which made up the all-Malay Royal Malay Regiment and 11 of which be- longed to the multiethnic Malaysian Rangers. Additional formations included three cavalry, four field artillery, one armored personnel carrier, five engineer, and five signals regiments; two anti-aircraft batteries; and one special forces (commando) regiment.
Ground forces also included the general services corps, which handled clerical, pay and education, legal, and public relations services; the military police; electrical and mechanical engineers, medical and dental, ordnance, intelligence, and women's corps; and the Army Reserve Force. For administrative convenience, the army was organized into two regional units: Region I, comprising Peninsular Malaysia, and Region II, comprising Sabah and Sarawak.
Special Forces Group (Grup Gerak Khas - GGK) has three regiments (11th, 21st and 22nd GGK) under the direct command of the Army Commander. 10th Paratroop Brigade was under the direct command of the Army Commander. Army Aviation Corps some elements work closely with the 21st Special Forces Group and the 10th Paratroop Brigade. Border Security Regiment: for duties along the Thailand border.
Military personnel in Malaysia do not have any constabulary powers to enforce civilian laws except for right of self-defense and citizen’s arrest. This situation was similar to the U.S. military personnel as restricted by the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA). In order to overcome this complication, strict orders and rules of engagement can be enforced in conducting operations at the borders, and street patrols can be conducted jointly with the police.
The quality of officers and other personnel turned out by the training centers during the 1979-81 period was adversely affected by the rapid expansion of forces. The problem was complicated by a lack of adequate training facilities in the country. During that period, greatly increased personnel requirements forced the military to be less choosy in selecting recruits than it would have liked. Young officers had to be placed in positions of command before they were sufficiently trained or experienced to handle command responsibilities. Combat proficiency, morale, administration, and discipline were said to have suffered. Recognizing this, the army slowed its own growth in 1981, well before the government-ordered cutback in mid-1982.
The minimum age for voluntary military service is 18. Women can serve in the military but only in noncombat positions. Malaysia’s only form of conscription is the National Service Program, which requires three months of military service for approximately 80,000 18-year-old men and women randomly selected from the population. The program was established in February 2004 to improve the military and to promote national integration and patriotism. However, the program has been revamped to address problems such as its poor organization and ethnic divisions among recruits.
Since 2004, the MA embarked on a transformation program known as the ‘Army 2 10 plus 10’. General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkifeli bin Mohd Zin, former Chief of the Malaysian Army stated: "The Army 2 10 plus 10 will transform the Malaysian Army into an Objective Force that was professional, versatile and credible, capable of defending the Nation’s integrity, sovereignty and interests at all costs."
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