in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title

'royal' as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy.

Instead, the title is bestowed on selected army corps and regiments who

have been accorded the honour by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, who is the

Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

History The first military units in Malaysia can

be traced back to the Penang Rifle Volunteers raised in 1 March 1861, and

the Malay States Volunteer Rifles which existed from 1915 to 1936.

The birth of the modern Malaysian Army came about when the Federal Council of

the Federated Malay States passed the Malay Regiment Bill on 23 January 1933.

This allowed the initial recruitment of 25 males for the 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 battalion was formed on 1 January 1938 and eventually

a second battalion on 1 December 1941. The 1st Bn Malay Regiment was famous for

its defence of Opium Hill or Bukit Chandu in Singapore. The 'Battle of

Opium Hill' on 14 February 1942 involved 42 soldiers commanded by Lt. Adnan Bin

Saidi who defended their position against attack from the 18th Division of

the Japanese Imperial Army under Lt. Gen. Renya Mutaguchi. After World War II

and during the Malayan Emergency, the number of battalions was increased to 7

in the early 50s. The Kor Armor DiRaja can trace its roots

to the formation on 1 September 1952 of the Federation Reconnaissance Squadron.

It was later merged with the Federation Regiment to form the Federation

Reconnaissance Corps. The name underwent a few transformations from the Malaysian

Reconnaissance Corps, Royal Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps to Royal Cavalry

Corps and finally to Kor Armor DiRaja on 8 December 1986.

The Royal Ranger Regiment's lineage began in 1863 as the paramilitary

Sarawak Rangers. Although the 2nd in the order of precedence, it is the oldest

active formation of the Army. Organisation and structure

The Malaysian Army is currently organised into five Divisions and are

placed under the Field Army Headquarters. Three of which are based

on the Malaysian Peninsular, while the two are based on Malaysian Borneo. The

Grup Gerak Khas, 10th Parachute Brigade and the Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat are

independent formations and directly subordinate to the Chief of the Army.

The Malaysian Army currently has 17 Corps or Regiments. These are grouped

into 3 main components: the Combat Element, the Combat Support Element and

the Support Elements. Rank Structure

The Malaysian Army uses a rank structure [1] inherited from the British Army. the

Malaysian Army rank structure has 17 levels from Private to General. These

ranks are divided into 2 groups - Officer and Other Ranks which includes

the Non-Commissioned Officer ranks. = Officers=

Officers are sub-divided into 3 groups:- Senior Officers This group consists of

officers holding the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, Brigadier General,

Major General, Lieutenant General and General

Field Officers Field Officers are officers holding the rank of Major

Junior Officers This group consists of Second Lieutenant, Lieutenant and

Captain grade officers. Other Ranks This group begins at Private

and works its way up to Warrant Officer I. This is further subdivided into 3

groups: Senior NCO This group includes NCOs

holding the rank of Sergeant, Staff Sergeant, Warrant Officer II and Warrant

Officer I. Junior NCO This group includes NCOs

holding the rank of Lance Corporal and Corporal.

Private Private soldiers in the Malaysian Army do not wear any rank

devices on their uniform. There are no distinctions made between junior or

senior Privates. Corps and regiments

Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja Rejimen Renjer DiRaja

Rejimen Sempadan Kor Armor DiRaja

Rejimen Artileri DiRaja Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja

Kor Perkhidmatan Am Kor Polis Tentera DiRaja;

Kor Kesihatan DiRaja Kor Risik DiRaja

Kor Perkhidmatan DiRaja; Kor Ordnans DiRaja

Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja

Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera Rejimen Askar Wataniah

Rejimen Gerak Khas Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat

= Combat element= Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja

This is the most senior regiment of the Malaysian Army. Its ranks are recruited

from amongst the Malay population. The Regiment has 25 battalions. The 1st

Battalion, the most senior in the Regiment, currently undertakes

ceremonial and Royal Guard duties. The remainder are configured as 20 Standard

Infantry Battalions, two Mechanised Infantry Battalions and two Parachute

Infantry Battalions. The regiment uses rifle green berets except two battalions

that wear maroon berets. See 17 RAMD Para Weblog The 19th Bn Royal Malay

Regiment was involved in the rescue of US Rangers and Delta Force operatives in

Somalia during the Battle of Mogadishu. The unit of 32 Radpanzer Condor APCs and

113 men from MALBATT 1 went in with the United States 10th Mountain Division to

rescue the trapped Rangers. Four APCs were immobilised and were destroyed by

US helicopter gunships. 19 Royal Malay Regiment suffered 1 soldier killed in

action, PFC Mat Aznan Awang while 8 others were wounded in action. Pfc Mat

Aznan Awang was later promoted posthumously to Corporal and was awarded

with Pingat Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, the nation's highest gallantry award. In

total, 7 officers and 26 NCOs were awarded various medals for their valour

during the operation, the highest number of men recommended for medals in a

single unit in a single operation. Rejimen Renjer DiRaja

This is a multi-racial unit organised along similar lines to the Rejimen Askar

Melayu DiRaja. There are currently 10 battalions within this regiment. The

Regiment traces its roots to the Sarawak Rangers and the Sarawak Constabulary,

famed jungle trackers who had a deadly reputation during the Malayan Emergency

and during the Communist Party of Malaya's insurgency in Malaysia. The 8th

Bn Royal Ranger Regiment was the first infantry battalion in the Malaysian Army

to undergo conversion into an airborne battalion. The unit is currently

assigned to the elite 10 Brigade. The Malaysian Army's most decorated soldier,

WOI Kanang anak Langkau was a Regimental Sergeant Major of 8 Ranger.

Rejimen Sempadan This is a newly created regiment from

the 300 series Territorial Army units in charge of the border. The Deputy Prime

Minister and Defence Minister, Najib Tun Razak, announced on 1 July 2006 the

formation of a new regiment specifically for border patrol. Members of the

regiment will be taken from various regiments and corps, most notably from

the Rejimen Askar Wataniah. It is believed that the army will form about 2

to 3 brigades of this new regiment. The new regiment was officially raised on 9

February 2008 by Najib Tun Razak at Tanah Merah, Kelantan.

Kor Armor DiRaja provides the armour capability for the Malaysian Army.

Currently, the Corps consists of 5 battalions, which are equipped with

various armoured personnel carriers and light combat vehicles. Rejimen ke-11 of

the Kor Armor DiRaja is the sole user of 48 PT-91M Main Battle Tanks from Poland.

= Combat Support element= Rejimen Artileri Diraja is the artillery

corps of the Malaysian Army and provides artillery support and local air defence

for army units. The regiment is equipped with 36 Brazilian-made Astros II

multiple launch rocket systems and 28 G5 MkIII towed artillery guns from South

Africa. Air defence is provided using a mix of Swiss Oerlikon twin 35 mm and

Swedish Bofors 40 mm anti-aircraft artillery and missile systems such as

the Jernas and Starburst from the UK, Anza from Pakistan, FN-6 from China and

Igla from Russia. Malaysia committed to purchase Starstreak V-Shorads missiles

from the UK in 2015. Rejimen Semboyan Diraja is in charge of

strategic communication, tactical communications, electronic warfare and

early warning systems such as radar. Kor Polis Tentera DiRaja deploys as part

of the field army, in support of army operations, and enforces proper conduct

among army personnel. Aside from being responsible for base security, the

military police are also tasked with preventing and investigating criminal

activities on army property or by military personnel.

Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja is tasked with demolitions, bridge-laying and the

repair of military infrastructure, such as airbase runways, or clearing

obstacles in emergency situations. Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja

is responsible for the maintenance of all vehicles and machinery of the

Malaysian Army. Kor Risik DiRaja specialises in

psychological warfare, surveillance, intelligence, reconnaissance and

counter-intelligence operations. Aside from handling propaganda and

counter-propaganda, the corps is also tasked with conducting background checks

on recruits when they first enroll in any training courses.

= Support elements= Kor Ordnans DiRaja ensures that all

military supplies and ordnance are stored, secured and inventoried

properly. Kor Agama Angkatan Tentera performs

religious services for Muslim and Christian personnel of the Malaysian

Army. It also provides counselling and conducts ritual prayers on the

battlefield. Kor Perkhidmatan DiRaja is in charge of

transporting troops and supplies to the various units of the Malaysian Army.

Kor Kesihatan DiRaja provides training for Army medics and other specialists.

It runs the Armed Forces hospitals and provides the battlefield mobile

hospitals. The unit has also provided relief MALMEDTIMs to Pakistan,

Afghanistan [2], West Sahara, Indonesia and Palestine.

Kor Perkhidmatan Am handles administration and financial management

for the entire army. = Special Forces=

Rejimen Gerak Khas is the Malaysian Army's special forces and commando

regiment. 21 Gerup Gerak Khas is the operational home of various specialists

and the Commando battalions, which are capable of conducting unconventional

warfare or special operations. One of the known foreign operations involving

this regiment was in an attack by Somali militia on a convoy transporting UN

Intelligence Chief in UNOSOM II on 18 July 1994. In the action, two members of

the regiment were killed in action, while another four were wounded. One of

the injured men was taken hostage by the militia and was released nine hours

later. 10 Paratrooper Brigade is an elite

airborne unit tasked with being rapidly deployed inside or outside the

boundaries of Malaysia. 10th Para is the key element of the Malaysian Rapid

Deployment Force and it is Malaysia primary main offensive force in time of

war or emergencies. = Air unit=

Pasukan Udara Tentera Darat is the Army Aviation branch formed around a core of

Royal Malaysian Air Force officers. This new Army formation is tasked with

liaison duties, providing limited transport capabilities, close air

support and also air reconnaissance using light observation helicopters. The

unit currently has one squadron, No. 881 Squadron, which is equipped with 11

Agusta A109 light helicopters. The main Army Air Corps base is located in

Kluang, Johor. = Reserves=

Rejimen Askar Wataniah forms the second line of Malaysia's defence. Formed by

college students, professionals and civilians, it provides support for the

regular armed forces of Malaysia and is responsible for the security of key

installations in times of conflict. Originally tasked with area and local

defence, the Rejimen Askar Wataniah units have been reconfigured and will

perform front line duties alongside regular units when the need arises.

Rejimen Askar Wataniah units, such as armoured squadrons, are integral units

of several Kor Armor DiRaja regiments. Strength

The personnel strength of the Malaysian Army is approximately 80,000 personnel

in the Active Army, 50,000 in the Active Reserve and 26,600 active and 244,700

reservists in the Paramilitary. The Malaysian Army consists of 4

infantry divisions, 9 infantry brigades, 1 special forces brigade, 1 airborne

brigade and 1 mechanised brigade, composed of:

36 Light Infantry Battalions 3 Airborne Infantry Battalions

3 Mechanised Infantry Battalions 5 Armoured battalions

1 light tank squadron 13 Artillery Regiments

3 Special Forces Regiments 3 field engineer regiments

1 airborne infantry squadron 1 construction regiment

4 military police regiments 1 signals regiment

1 intelligence unit 1 helicopter squadron

The territorial army includes: 16 light infantry regiments

2 border surveillance brigades 5 highway surveillance battalions

2 field engineer regiments Equipment

Present Development Since the recovery from the 1997

economic crisis, MA, along with other branches of the MAF, has regained

momentum in its modernising programs. The first major procurement was to set a

milestone by building its first ever main battle tank regiment. MA received

delivery of 48 PT-91M main battle tanks and other tank-based equipment, like ARV

WZT-4 from Poland, fully completed contract of sale in March 2010. Despite

adding some 28 units of South African G5 Mk III 155 mm howitzers, another major

procurement was 18 units of Astros MLRS from Brazil, which delivery was

completed in 2006. A second batch of 18 MRLS was ordered in 2007. MA is also

rapidly mechanising its current inventory - 211 Adnan IFVs were acquired

by the army in 2004. Following a more recent procurement of the Pakistani

Bakhtar-Shikan Anti-armor missile launcher, these were installed on the

Adnans. MA is now shifting its emphasis on

enhancing its air wing. In September 2006, MA received its 11th and last

Agusta-Westland A109H Light Utility Helicopter. These helicopters are to

initially complement, and ultimately replace, the ageing SA316B Aérospatiale

Alouette III helicopters. Six of them were to be installed with light arms and

to be tasked to a scout observation unit; a sample was shown in LIMA 07. The

configuration of the remainder is unclear. Furthermore, the army will also

receive S61A-4 Nuri multipurpose helicopters after they are retired from

RMAF; these will form the backbone of the army's very first air transport

units - 881 and 882 squadrons of the army air wing.

In the same year, at the biannual Defence Services Asia 2006, Malaysia

announced that the US made M4 Carbine service rifle will replace the

Austrian-made Steyr AUG service rifle for all three Malaysian Armed Forces