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2012902

Malaysian Army

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Malaysian Army

The Malaysian Army (Malay: Tentera Darat Malaysia; Jawi: تنترا دارت مليسيا‎) is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ (diraja) as do the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force. Instead, the title is bestowed on selected army corps and regiments who have been accorded the honour by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong ('The King of Malaysia'), who is the Supreme Commander of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

The first military units in Malaysia can be traced back to the Penang Volunteer Rifle raised on 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 in the Haig Lines camp in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. 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 (Bukit Chandu) in Singapore. The ‘Battle of Opium Hill’ on 14 February 1942 involved 42 soldiers commanded by Lt. Adnan 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 seven in the early 1950s.

The Kor Armor DiRaja ('Royal Armoured Corps') 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 (16 September 1967), Royal Malaysian Reconnaissance Corps (May 1979) to Royal Cavalry Corps (December 1979) 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 second in the order of precedence, it is the oldest active formation of the Army.

The flag of the Malaysian Army, introduced since the inception of the Malaysian Army and still in use today, combines elements of the Malaysian Flag and the crest of the Malaysian Army. It serves as a symbol of pride and courage for the Malaysian Army.

This flag measures 187 centimetres (74 in) in height and 91.5 centimetres (36.0 in) in width. It is flown from 6.30 am to 6.30 pm daily, following specific protocols and honors.

The Malaysian Army currently has 18 Corps and Regiments. These are grouped into 3 main components — the Combat Elements, the Combat Support Elements and the Support Elements.

The Corps and Regiments are currently organised into five divisions. Three of which (the 2nd, 3rd and 4th Divisions) are based on the Malay Peninsula and placed under Western Field Army Headquarters, while the other two (the 1st Division and 5th Division) are based on Malaysian Borneo and placed under Eastern Field Army Headquarters.

The 21st Special Service Group (the Army's special forces), 10th Parachute Brigade and the two Army Aviation Regiments are independent formations.

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