Rejimen Askar Wataniah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

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Rejimen Askar Wataniah

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Rejimen Askar Wataniah is the reserve component of the Malaysian Army. An equivalent formation in the British Army would be the Territorial Army. The Regiment infantry unit is divided into 2 series; the 300 series and the 500 series. The 300 series consist of 5 infantry battalions with mobilized reservists for full time duty. They are mostly posted at northern border check-points. The 500 series are reserve volunteers units, based in major towns and cities throughout the whole country. In all, there are about sixteen Regiments of the 500 series. [1]

Territorial Army Regiment Rejimen Askar Wataniah

Cap badge of Rejimen Askar Wataniah

Contents
Formed

Agency overview 1 June 1958 Malayan General Service Corp Malaysian Army

1 History 2 Malayan Emergency 3 Combat Element 4 Combat Support Element 5 Services Support Element 6 Specialist Elements 7 Pasukan Latihan Pegawai Simpanan (PALAPES) 8 Mobilized Units 9 Valour 10 Rejimen Pengurusan Sempadan 11 Al-Mau'nah Arms Heist 12 References 13 External links

Preceding agency Parent agency

History
Volunteer Units In Malaya In 1861, the Penang Volunteers were formed as a volunteer army unit of the Straits Settlement. Similar units were formed in Singapore and in the other Malay States.[2] In 1902, the Federated Malay States formed the Malay State Volunteer Rifles (MSVR) volunteer force. The Unfederated Malay States also formed their own volunteer units. With further expansion, the formations were then known as the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force (FMSVF), Unfederated Malay States Volunteer Force (UFMSVF) and the Straits Settlement Volunteer Force (SSVF).

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Second World War With the outbreak of the Second World War, the volunteer units were mobilised and fought alongside the regular British, Indian and Australian troops in the defence of Malaya and Fortress Singapore. The desertion rate of the Malay volunteer soldiers was extremely high and began almost from the onset of hostilities. Although there were several executions of Malay deserters, the desertion rate continued unabated. Due to their unreliability, the Malay volunteers were thereafter used only as uniformed coolies to carry equipment, dig trenches and build defences. By the time the British forces had withdrawn to Johor, a decision was made to disarm the remainder of the Malay volunteers and allow them to leave for home. The Chinese and Eurasian volunteers showed better fighting spirit and continued serving right up to the surrender in Singapore. Only the Chinese volunteers actually fought in the front line in Singapore fighting against terrible odds. The Chinese volunteers from Malaya who were killed in front line action have never been acknowledged as war heroes by the post-independence government of Malaysia. Only Britain and Singapore have recognised their contribution to the war effort. The abysmal performance of the Malay volunteers was officially covered up by the post-WW2 colonial authorities so as not to antagonise the Malays in the light of civil unrest arising from the implementation of the Malayan Union in 1946. [3] Japanese Occupation of Malaya During the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, the Chinese dominated Malayan Peoples Anti-Japanese Army conducted guerrilla warfare against the Japanese occupiers. As only the regular Malay Regiment led by British officers had acquitted itself well until the surrender in Singapore (February 1942), the British felt it was possible to involve Malays in the resistance against the Japanese but only with extensive training and by working in close co-operation with the stay behind British forces. The British desperately needed Malay resistance fighters to operate in Malay dominated areas. During the Japanese Occupation, a number of local Malays formed resistance groups and carried out guerrilla warfare against the Japanese. Resistance units in Pahang were called WATANIAH, derived from the Arabic word WATAN (state). The Wataniah was led by Yeop Mahidin Bin Mohamed Shafiff (known as the Father of Wataniah). Force 136 of the Special Operations Executive was amongst the British formations that co-ordinated the Malayan resistance (including the Wataniah movement) against the Japanese.

Malayan Emergency
After the war, the volunteer units were reformed. With the start of the Malayan Emergency, the Home Guard was raised and tasked with local static defence, thus releasing regular British, Commonwealth and Malayan units for combat operations against the Communist Terrorists. In 1958, with the security situation under control and the threat from the Communist Terrorists diminished, the Home Guard was disbanded. However, many of the members of the Home Guard wished to continue their voluntary service, and the Federation Government agreed to the formation of the Territorial Army with the passing of the Territorial Army Ordinance 1958. The Askar Wataniah was formed on 1 June 1958.

Combat Element
The 500 series is tasked with the same mission as the combat infantry battalions of the Royal Malay Regiment and the Royal Ranger Regiment. There are currently 16 Wataniah Regiments, each comprising 3 (nominal) infantry battalions. [4]
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Regiments located throughout Malaysia are namely Rejimen 501 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 502 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 503 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 504 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 505 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 506 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 507 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 508 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 509 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 510 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 511 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 512 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 513 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 514 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 515 Askar Wataniah, Kem Rejimen 516 Askar Wataniah, Kem Tebrau, Johor Bharu Sungai Buloh, Selangor Jalan Tambun, Ipoh, Perak Bukit Keteri, Kangar, Perlis Teluk Sisik, Kuantan, Pahang Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bahru, Kelantan Bukit Perwira, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan Lebuhraya Peel, George Town, Pulau Pinang Sri Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak Ria Kompleks, Kuching, Sarawak Padang Midin, Kuala Berang, Terengganu Jalan Kolam Air, Sungai Petani, Kedah Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur Kukusan, Tawau, Sabah

Combat Support Element

The Wataniah Armoured Squadrons are the integrated components of the regular units of the Royal Armoured Corps. The Squadrons are currently located at Port Dickson, Kuantan, Sungai Petani and Kota Belud. The Wataniah Artillery Batteries are integrated components of the regular units of the Royal Artillery Regiment. The Wataniah Artillery Batteries are located in Kota Bharu, Taiping, Melaka, Seremban and Kuala Lumpur. The Wataniah Signal Squadrons assist regular squadrons Royal Signals Regiment in establishing and maintaining Army communications. Squadrons are located in Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh and Sungei Besi. The Wataniah Engineer Squadrons provide combat engineering skills alongside regular engineer squadrons. Squadrons are located in Kuala Terengganu, Kajang, Klang and Pulau Pinang. The Wataniah Military Police Companies are tasked with helping the discipline and law enforcement, based in Pulau Pinang, Kuantan, Sg. Buloh and Kem Genting. The Wataniah Intelligence unit is an integral part of the regular battalion of the Kor Risik diRaja (Royal Intelligence Corps), and is located in Pulau Pinang. The Askar Wataniah Electrical and Mechanical Engineers maintain two workshops, one in Ipoh and the other in Kuala Lumpur as well as 4 field workshops based in Taiping, Melaka, Kuantan and Kuching

Services Support Element

The Wataniah Logistic Corps consists of 5 transport companies based in Seremban, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bharu and Kota Bharu, one supply company based in Kuala Lumpur and one air despatch platoon based in Taiping.
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The Wataniah Ordnan Corps maintains a single Kumpulan Ordnan Briged (Brigade Ordnance Group) based in Kuala Lumpur while Wataniah Brigade Ordnance groups are integrated into regular Army brigades in Kuching, Taiping Melaka and Kuantan. Askar Wataniah also has 4 medical companies (called Kompeni Ubat AW) based in Kuantan, Kluang, Sungai Petani and Kuching.

Specialist Elements
The Askar Wataniah Specialist Signals Unit specialises in the maintenance of communication, and its members are drawn from amongst staff of Telekom Malaysia Berhad. Askar Wataniah Specialist Engineering Units are based at the Markas Jurutera (SP) (HQ L of C) in Bukit Haigate, Kuala Lumpur and comprises: Port Specialist Regiment(Jurutera Pakar Pelabuhan) These port operating units are formed at the main Malaysian ports, and members are drawn from amongst port personnel at the ports of An operatives of Rejimen Askar Wataniah during Kuantan, Klang, Pulau Pinang, Bintulu dan the shooting course with Heckler & Koch Kuching. HK33A2, circa 1990s. Railway Specialist Regiment are tasked with the maintenance and operation of the Malaysian railway system during emergencies. The unit recruits from members of Malayan Railways and the State Railway of Sabah. Water Specialist Regiment with strength recruited from staff of water supply utility companies. Power Specialist Regiment are recruited from Tenaga Nasional Berhad and other power generation companies.

Pasukan Latihan Pegawai Simpanan (PALAPES)

PALAPES units (Reserve Officers Training Units - ROTU) are formed at 12 universities and institutes of higher education to facilitate the recruitment of graduate officers. Following the Confrontation, the Reserve unit was formed on 3 April 1965 as the 1st Infantry Battalion, Askar Wataniah at University Malaya[5] , mustered from amongst undergraduates and staff of Universiti Malaya. Initially 30 undergraduates from various faculties volunteered and underwent basic training during their semester breaks at the Recruit Training Camp at Kem Latihan Seputih, Batu Gajah, Perak. The majority of the recruits had prior experience in the Army and Police Cadets and many were former students of the Maktab Tentera Diraja (Royal Military College). The aftermath of the 13 May 1969 riots saw the expansion of the Askar Wataniah unit to other universities with A Company formed in di Institut Teknologi MARA, B Company formed in Universiti Pertanian Malaysian (UPM) (now called Universiti Putra Malaysia) and C Company formed at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia while the unit at Universiti Malaya took on the role of battalion HQ.
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On 18 December 1978, the Brigadier General Dato Abdul As Ismail, the Director of Askar Wataniah discussed the formation of the Reserve Officers Training Units with the university Vice Chancellors and the Director of ITM. Pursuant to the meeting, the Armed Forces Council approved the formation of the Reserve Officer Training Unit ROTU at Malaysian local universities to attract Reserve Officers from amongst staff and undergraduates of the various universities. ROTU is currently known as Pasukan Latihan Pegawai Simpanan (PALAPES). There are currently 12 Malaysian public universities and institutions of higher education hosting PALAPES units. Units are formed at Universiti Malaya (PALAPES UM) (http://palapes.um.edu.my) , Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Universiti Utara Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris and Universiti Malaysia Perlis.

Mobilized Units
Mobilized units consists of five 300 series infantry battalions responsible for protecting the northern border of peninsular Malaysia, the security of East-West Highway and Key Points Units tasked in protecting the strategic areas of the country.

Valour
Although the unit is a reserve force, the unit has produced a soldier awarded the medal of honour. One Private Ielias Ibrahim was awarded the medal Panglima Gagah Berani/PBG for his action in a firefight at Grik, Perak on August 15, 1977.

Rejimen Pengurusan Sempadan

On 30 June 2006, Deputy Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak announced the government's proposal to form the Rejimen Pengurusan Sempadan to undertake border security tasks. The new regiment will have 2 bases, one in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and the other in East Malaysia. The formation of the new regiment will not involve additional manpower, but will instead involve the realignment of present series 300 and series 500 regiments of Rejimen Askar Wataniah. [6]

Al-Mau'nah Arms Heist

On 2 July 2000 on an outpost and a camp manned by members of Bn 304 of Rejimen Askar Wataniah was involved in an arms heist by the Al-Mau'nah militant group. In the small hours of the morning, 21 members of the militant group visited the outpost and camp of Bn 304 Rejimen Askar Wataniah under the guise of a surprise inspection and relieved the soldiers' weapons or carted away weapons from the armoury. They took away a huge cache of firearms and ammunition, including 97 M16 assault rifles, four GPMGs, five grenade launchers, 9,095 rounds of 5.56mm and 60 rounds of 40mm ammunition. The group was later cornered in the village of Sauk, Perak and involved in a stand-off the Malaysian Army and Royal Malaysian Police forces. Police threw a containment cordon of Bukit Jenalik. The group then took several hostages and holed up for four days in Bukit Jenalik, Sauk before finally surrendering to security forces. However, they brutally tortured and murdered two of the hostages - a soldier and a police personnel.
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brutally tortured and murdered two of the hostages - a soldier and a police personnel. The Al-Mau'nah group later surrendered, and the leaders brought to trial for "waging war upon the King". Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali and his group were brought to trial for charges of "waging war against the King", and became the first people convicted of such charges in Malaysia. Mohamed Amin Mohamed Razali and his two lieutenants, Zahit Muslim and Jamaluddin Darus, were sentenced to death. Sixteen others were given life sentences. [7]

References
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. ^ Official website of Malaysian Army (http://army.mod.gov.my/kerjaya/wataniah/pasukan.htm) ^ far-eastern-volunteers.co.uk website (http://www.far-eastern-volunteers.co.uk/ssvf.html) ^ [BBC interview with Sjovald Cunningham-Brown, 1983] ^ Official website of Malaysian Army (http://army.mod.gov.my/kerjaya/wataniah/pasukan.htm) ^ Official website of Askar Wataniah, University of Malaya (http://palapes.um.edu.my) ^ Kerajaan Cadang Wujud Rejimen Pengurusan Sempadan(Bahasa Melayu) (http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/bm/news_lite.php?id=206067) 7. ^ Malaysian militant group leader hanged (http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2006-08/04/content_4921065.htm)

External links
overview of Askar Wataniah - from the official Malaysian Army website (in Bahasa Melayu) (http://army.mod.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=67&Itemid=98) a history of Askar Wataniah (in Bahasa Melayu) (http://rmecc.mmu.edu.my/502AW/wataniah/sejarah.html) A biography of KOLONEL DATO' YEOP MAHIDIN BIN MOHAMED SHAFIFF, the father of Askar Wataniah (in Bahasa Melayu) (http://rmecc.mmu.edu.my/502AW/wataniah/pengasas.html) An overview of the 500 series Regiment (in Bahasa Melayu) (http://rmecc.mmu.edu.my/502AW/wataniah/pasukan.html) 303 INFANTRY BATTALION Askar Wataniah by DR CHEN WEI SENG (http://members.fortunecity.com/chen24/tmgr.html) Pasukan Latihan Pegawai Simpanan (PALAPES) Universiti Malaya (http://palapes.um.edu.my) Malaysian Army Web page - Laman Web Tentera Darat Malaysia (http://www.army.mod.gov.my/wataniah.htm) Portal PALAPES - PASUKAN LATIHAN PEGAWAI SIMPANAN (http://www.palapes.com) 12 Kompeni Ubat (AW) (http://www.kck.usm.my/wataniah/index.php? option=com_content&task=view&id=56&Itemid=2Website) The Japanese Occupation of Malaya: A Socio-Economic History, By Paul H Kratoska pg 294 Rejimen Askar Wataniah Website at Malaysian Multimedia University (http://rmecc.mmu.edu.my/502AW/) Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rejimen_Askar_Wataniah" Categories: Military of Malaysia This page was last modified on 21 July 2009 at 14:08. Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License; additional terms may apply. See Terms of Use for details. Wikipedia is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.

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