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| Angkatan Tentera Malaysia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Angkatan Tentera Malaysia |
| Founded | 1933 (roots), 1957 (formal) |
| Country | Malaysia |
| Branch | * Malaysian Army * Royal Malaysian Navy * Royal Malaysian Air Force |
| Role | Defence, security, peacekeeping |
| Headquarters | Wisma Pertahanan, Kuala Lumpur |
| Commander in chief | Yang di-Pertuan Agong |
| Minister | Minister of Defence |
| Commander | Chief of Defence Force |
| Active | ~120,000 |
Angkatan Tentera Malaysia is the unified armed forces responsible for the defence of Malaysia and involved in regional security, humanitarian assistance, and multinational operations. Formed from colonial-era units and Malay sultanate forces, it comprises the Malaysian Army, Royal Malaysian Navy, and Royal Malaysian Air Force. It operates under the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and coordinates with regional organisations and partners for stability in Southeast Asia.
The origins trace to pre-World War II formations such as the Federated Malay States Volunteer Force, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force, and Malay Regiment which saw action during the Malayan Emergency and World War II. Postwar reorganisations produced the modern services that confronted the Malayan Emergency, the Indonesian Confrontation (Konfrontasi), and counterinsurgency campaigns across Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo. During the 1990s and 2000s the force modernised amid regional shifts exemplified by events like the Asian Financial Crisis and increased cooperation through the Association of Southeast Asian Nations defence frameworks. Peacekeeping deployments included contributions to United Nations peacekeeping missions and multinational exercises such as Exercises with partners including the United States Armed Forces, Australian Defence Force, and People's Liberation Army for training exchanges.
Command is vested in the Yang di-Pertuan Agong as constitutional head, with operational direction from the Chief of Defence Force (Malaysia) headquartered at Wisma Pertahanan. The Ministry of Defence's civilian leadership includes the Minister of Defence (Malaysia) and Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia liaising on procurement and policy. The forces are organised into joint commands, theatre-level formations, and service-specific headquarters including Army Headquarters (Malaysia), Naval Headquarters (Malaysia), and Air Force Headquarters (Malaysia). Interoperability initiatives align doctrine with partners from Five Power Defence Arrangements, United Nations, and bilateral agreements with nations like Japan, India, and United Kingdom.
The Malaysian Army fields infantry, armour, artillery, aviation, and special forces elements including units trained for jungle warfare originating from the Malayan Emergency experience. The Royal Malaysian Navy operates surface combatants, submarines, and naval aviation tasked with safeguarding maritime approaches such as the Strait of Malacca and South China Sea routes, cooperating with navies from Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand. The Royal Malaysian Air Force provides air defence, transport, maritime patrol, and strike capabilities with platforms used in partnership efforts like Search and Rescue (SAR) and humanitarian relief after disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
Personnel strength includes regulars, reservists, and volunteer elements recruited from across Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. Recruitment draws candidates through institutions like the Malaysian Armed Forces Volunteer Reserve Corps and academies such as the Royal Military College (Malaysia) and Malaysian Armed Forces Military Academy (Maktab Tentera Diraja). Service is professional and volunteer-based; mandatory conscription is not in force, though national service schemes such as the Malaysia My Second Home-style proposals and past Program Latihan Khidmat Negara have influenced manpower policy debates. Promotion pathways reflect professional military education and examinations administered by service schools and staff colleges.
Equipment spans small arms, armoured vehicles, frigates, submarines, combat aircraft, and surveillance systems procured through suppliers from United Kingdom, France, United States, China, and South Korea. Notable platforms include modernised frigates and the acquisition of conventional submarines to enhance underwater deterrence, along with multirole fighters and maritime patrol aircraft enhancing domain awareness in the South China Sea. Air defence systems, artillery, and armoured platforms provide combined-arms capability for expeditionary and territorial defence missions. Logistics networks rely on bases such as Butterworth Air Base, naval dockyards in Kuala Lumpur administration, and forward installations in eastern Malaysian states.
Operational history covers counterinsurgency in the Malayan Emergency and Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89), border security operations during Konfrontasi, anti-piracy patrols in the Strait of Malacca, and humanitarian assistance in response to regional disasters including coordination with AHA Centre. International deployments have included UN missions in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Southern Lebanon, and Afghanistan as contributions to multinational stabilisation efforts. Domestic operations include disaster response to floods in Peninsular Malaysia and security support for major events involving sovereign institutions like the Conference of Rulers.
Training institutions encompass the Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College, Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College, service-specific schools such as the Army Training Institute, naval training centres including KD Sultan Idris, and air force academies like Sekolah Menengah Sains Tuanku Syed Putra for pre-university cadet pipelines. Joint exercises such as Exercise Bersama Lima and bilateral programmes with the United States Pacific Command, Australian Defence Force, People's Republic of China and Japan Self-Defense Forces provide interoperability and advanced training in amphibious operations, counterterrorism, and maritime domain awareness. Professional military education emphasises doctrine, leadership, and the application of modern command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance concepts seen in partnerships with academic institutions and defence colleges.
Category:Military of Malaysia