The "Rejimen Askar Wataniah"

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.

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.

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). With the outbreak of the Second World War, the volunteer units were mobilised and fought alongside the regular British, Indian and Australian Armies in the defence of Malaya and Fortress Singapore.

World War II

During World War II, the Chinese dominated Malayan people’s Anti-Japanese Army undertook guerrilla war against the Japanese Occupation of Malaya. Even though the Malays have fought bravely alongside the British Forces that were eventually defeated in Singapore (February 1942), the British felt it imperative to involve Malays in resistance against the Japanese. During the Japanese Occupation, a number of local Malays formed resistance groups and carried out guerrilla warfare on the Japanese. Resistance units in Pahang were called WATANIAH, derived from the Turkish word VATAN. 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 supported the Malayan resistance including the Wataniah movement against the Japanese Occupation.

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. [3]

Regiments located throughout Malaysia are namely

* Rejimen 501 Askar Wataniah, Kem Tebrau, Johor Bharu

* Rejimen 502 Askar Wataniah, Kem Sungai Buloh, Selangor

* Rejimen 503 Askar Wataniah, Kem Jalan Tambun, Ipoh, Perak

* Rejimen 504 Askar Wataniah, Kem Bukit Keteri, Kangar, Perlis

* Rejimen 505 Askar Wataniah, Kem Teluk Sisik, Kuantan, Pahang

* Rejimen 506 Askar Wataniah, Kem Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bahru, Kelantan

* Rejimen 507 Askar Wataniah, Kem Bukit Perwira, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

* Rejimen 508 Askar Wataniah, Kem Jalan Rasah, Seremban, Negeri Sembilan

* Rejimen 509 Askar Wataniah, Kem Lebuhraya Peel, George Town, Pulau Pinang

* Rejimen 510 Askar Wataniah, Kem Sri Rejang, Sibu, Sarawak

* Rejimen 511 Askar Wataniah, Kem Ria Kompleks, Kuching, Sarawak

* Rejimen 512 Askar Wataniah, Kem Padang Midin, Kuala Berang, Terengganu

* Rejimen 513 Askar Wataniah, Kem Jalan Kolam Air, Sungai Petani, Kedah

* Rejimen 514 Askar Wataniah, Kem Bukit Beruang, 75450 Melaka

* Rejimen 515 Askar Wataniah, Kem Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur

* Rejimen 516 Askar Wataniah, Kem 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 d!ckson, 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.

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 ELEMENT

he 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 Kuantan, Klang, Pulau Pinang, Bintulu dan Kuching.

* 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 (University Malaya) , 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.

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), 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 Kolej Universiti Kejuruteraan Utara Malaysia.

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.