Game over: Suspected sea pirates are freedom-impaired after commandos from the Royal Malaysian Navy's PASKAL team stormed an MISC ship in the Gulf of Aden that had been subjected to a non-compliant boarding by the civilians in the picture.
Op Fajar: The Malaysian Success Story in the Gulf of Aden 2008-2013
Royal Malaysian Navy and MISC Berhad
November 2013, 186 pages
Download your free English language coffee table book that chronicles the Malaysian Armed Forces deployments to the Gulf of Aden, codenamed Operasi Fajar (Operation Dawn), from this link.
The 186-page book, Op Fajar: The Malaysian success story in the Gulf of Aden, is an authoritative source of reference on the five-year long operational deployment. In that time, 476 Malaysian-flagged merchant vessels from MISC came under the protection of combat forces from the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force and Malaysian Army.
Op Fajar's narrative brings the reader close to the action while explaining the strategic picture such as the sea piracy situation and providing background on ATM forces involved during the deployment. Malaysia's approach to Total Defence (HANRUH) is also explained as the back story that tells how the ATM and Malaysian shipping line MISC jointly cooperated and coordinated the naval and air action on and above the Gulf of Aden.
Info graphics are nicely done. In particular, the range rings drawn on pages 64-65 illustrate the dramatic escalation in attacks over the years as pirates operated further from the horn of Africa.
The picture on page 162 of a PASKAL member embracing someone is quite moving and chosen well by the editorial board as it underlines the human side of the Royal Malaysian Navy's crack naval forces.
The book's editorial approach is commendable as it assumes nothing from the reader. Even someone with zero exposure to the ATM would find everything he or she would need to know about Op Fajar and Malaysian defence matters. That it is written in English should ensure the narrative finds new and enlightened readers in the international defence community.
Circulation of the book on the Internet illustrates the desire by Malaysian defence planners to circulate the good word on Op Fajar to as wide a global audience as possible. The hard copy was launched in November 2013 to commemorate 5-years of Op Fajar.
The Malaysian defence information plan for Op Fajar has range, depth and, most important of all, a compelling story to share. This should ensure the successful operation receives maximum exposure and draws max appreciation from an audience far from Malaysian shores.
Hi David,
ReplyDeleteI think last year was the first year you discussed the ATM day parade. Was last year the first time it was held? I've not heard of it before, but it could be just me.
Dear Anon,
ReplyDeleteLast year marked a major anniversary year for the Malaysian Army, which celebrated its 80th anniversary.
Several events, including the parades at Port Dickson and Merdeka Square in KL, were held to commemorate this anniversary.
Incidentally, the one at Port Dickson was staged on the weekend just before Op Daulat in Sabah and the ATM Day Parade was the first major parade after the operation.
Markas ATM is understood to have used the ATM Parade to unveil several capabilities for a domestic and foreign audience as part of its dual strategy to reassure the Rakyat and deter aggression.
Malaysian Army Day Parades are held almost annually. I attended my first one at Kem Sungai Besi back in 1992... when I was much younger. Haha.
Hope this helps.
Best regards,
David
Read that one Mr Baey, a Singaporean, arranged for the Mig-29 to be sold to the Malaysian Air Force...
ReplyDeleteand, from 1 Jan 2014, Sundays have become a working day for johor state govt employees ...
ReplyDeleteIs Link correct? My laptop says server doesn't exist.
ReplyDeleteHi, just came across this blog and would like to make a few
ReplyDeletecomments regarding the attitude of some Singaporeans here
(I am currently on MINDEF MR).
I do not know if Malaysians talk the same way on Malaysian
blogs but some Singaporeans talk rubbish on this blog.
a) Malaysia kicked Singapore out. Its armed forces is structured
for domestic operations as observed by military experts.
Sometimes their politicians say dumb things but they are just
being dumb. Afterall, Singaporean politicians are dumb too despite
their pay. There is nothing to gain from invading Singapore –
maybe they just enjoy rattling our chains.
b) Singapore has small territorial responsibilities but a huge
military budget. It is only natural we have all the latest gadgets.
This is nothing to brag about – unless you are Minister of Defence.
These will very probably grow obsolete in storage/use. Yes,
they have deterred war and served their purpose – but could
something less expensive have done the same? Remember,
the resources spent on defence takes away from other expenditure.
c) Yes their doctrines are piecemeal and there is corruption.
No need to keep flogging those points. Who knows the true
level of corruption in Singapore?
d) Some NS men seem to be raring to go. They will teach
Malaysia a lesson. Take over Johor and be home in time for
dinner. Please go and read more history – funky equipment
alone does not win battles. If Malaysia was truly concerned
about Singapore, it would buy different types of arms – any
idiot will know that. They border Thailand and Indonesia and
their budget is small. Do you think it takes a genius to buy
the latest arms? Their soldiers are regulars, the terrain is theirs
and the bullets are real. Don’t talk too big, especially if you
think the Singaporean government talks big all the time –
you sound just as dumb as them. Can the discussion not be
confined to the merits of the hardware alone? This blog might
become something silly like Milnuts or the Sgforum military
section.
Thank you for reading and goodbye (I will not be bookmarking
this site).
Amen, technology alone wont win wars. Soldiers win wars and they wont be raring to go if they are disgruntled at peace time, Malaysia, Indonesia have standing regular armies, we have an army heavy on reservists and on top of that number how many actually takes soldiering seriously?
ReplyDeleteSeriously, all this macho posturing and head games wont make us invincible in combat. And dont hide behind patriotism, it will go up in smoke once the politicians bag the money and fly to Vegas once war breaks out,
Ànom 11.13, has got his head screw on right. Spoke with valid and lucid points, kudos to you sir.
ReplyDeleteYou must be referring to your malaysian politicians. You should see them with their luggage at changi after the last general election.
ReplyDeleteAnom 12:20AM, correct. Patriotism only applies if your country is attacked.
ReplyDeleteHi Bob,
ReplyDeleteWould love to hear your comments on Civil Military Relations, as indicated by you in the CMR post.
Best regards,
David
Rubbish. Patriotism is 24/7. Only a Malaysian will make this suggestion. How you manifest it is up to you.
ReplyDeleteGong xi fatt chai to you david and your readers,
ReplyDeleteWhat mancho posturing? This is a blog. Singaporeans are free to express their hopes and fears as they like at the pleasure of the blog owner - even; invariably, it involves citing other countries. It always a good thing to be proud of your country's achievements. Im sure some foreigners suffer spasms of envy but what are you are doing here if you do not like what you see? Your own blogs are bursting with patriotism which are often directed at other countries. Oh yeah, i hate wars but if attacked, me and my reservist mates will ensure the attackers regret their actions forever.
ReplyDelete1:13 PM
ReplyDeleteAn out-of-touch piece of shit you are to call every view that disagrees with you "a Malaysian". I'm not going to die in some foreign country for nothing. You go ahead.
i am a Singaporean, served NS in a combat vocation, trained with Indons and Malaysians. Seriously these guys are the real deal, not like us part timers. i talked to a Kopassus officer regarding their operations, They have ongoing combat operations, in Papua, West Timor, Aceh.
ReplyDeleteTalking tough is one thing, walking the walk is another. I suggest to the gung ho NSman about talking like a champion, kill everyone and get some type to the sobering reality that our neighbour's armies might not be high tech, but they are better man to man,