tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post2079670823187153916..comments2024-03-28T21:39:05.175+08:00Comments on Senang Diri: Innovations in defence: Malaysia BolehDavid Boeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11401913253357584603noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-77101394882843602222014-10-06T19:10:47.266+08:002014-10-06T19:10:47.266+08:00Upcoming: Malaysia to evacuate citizens from Yemen...Upcoming: Malaysia to evacuate citizens from Yemen.earlyfalloutboyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00024073728764806346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2348464617577736454.post-23488912093333637642014-09-30T21:21:11.693+08:002014-09-30T21:21:11.693+08:00Thank you for the comments about the Malaysian Arm...Thank you for the comments about the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF). They try their best with weapon systems which are usually fostered on to them by certain politicians, which are not of their choosing. MAF are like the British, making do with inadequate weapons coupled with some expensive white elephant military systems which promise a lot, cost a lot and deliver very little! There's a lot of emphasis on training (6 months' BMT) and experience (UN missions to the Congo, Somalia, Cambodia, Bosnia, to name a few, with some 18 soldiers killed). <br />It often seems that MAF are able to do their duty in spite of the politicians instead of because of them. For instance, a driver of an APC was killed by a RPG during the rescue of US Rangers in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993. He was awarded Malaysia's highest military valour award. That had many veterans I spoke to foaming at the mouth because as they explained it, he was nothing more than a "taxi driver". <br />That award was suppose to be on par with the Victoria Cross, given to soldiers who achieved heroic feats such as attacking machine guns or multiple enemies single handed. As they said, if that is the case, than every Malaysian combat veteran who had faced fire during Emergency I & II against Communists Terrorists, Confrontation with Indonesia and UN missions, might as well be given that medal! Oh, they did give that medal to an accountant who was murdered in Hong Kong during an investigation of a corrupt business. Such brave valour !<br />However, in spite of all that, MAF are still capable of thinking out of the box when need requires. Malaysian Battalion (MALBATT) during the Bosnian War earned the respect of the Serbs when early on during their deployment, they threatened to shoot their way through a Serb checkpoint which was holding up their passage. This, despite superior numbers and heavy weapons at the beck and call of the Serbs. MALBATT seldom had problems with Serb checkpoints after that. Compared that with the cowardly actions of Dutchbat who surrendered some 8,000 civilians to the Serbs, who killed them all in the Srebrenica massacre. MALBATT veterans I have spoken to, have said that they would have never surrendered the civilians in their care, even though they were as lightly armed as the Dutchbat were. And in case you think this was all bravado, just remember the last stand of Lt Adnan and his men at the Battle of Pasir Panjang.<br />Another reason for such sentiment is because of what happened during the first Malaysian UN peacekeeping mission in Congo during the early 1960s. Faced with Congolese rebels, the CO of the Malaysian force there surrendered some Italian airmen who were in their care, even though earlier on, there had a been a standoff between the rebels and two junior officers who, disobeying earlier orders, had stood between the rebels and the Italians. Unfortunately, they were ordered directly by their CO upon threat of court martial to surrendered the airmen, which they reluctantly did. These airmen were later butchered and ate by the rebels. The CO was later court martial for cowardice and dishonorably discharged, whilst the two junior officers were awarded medals of valour. <br />After that debacle, it was always the policy of Malaysian UN peacekeeping forces that you never surrender anybody. That was why when the Americans ask for MALBATT help to save their Rangers during the Battle of Mogadishu, it never crossed their mind to refuse. It was an atonement of sorts. The Americans never forgot that and when they withdrew from Somalia in 1994, they were instrumental in nominating Lieutenant General Abu Samah as the Commander of United Nations Operation in Somalia II. <br />Ties that are forged from shed blood and combat experience tends to be stronger than ties that are forged on paper. It is no secret that when MAF ask for a favour from their American counterparts, they can always expect a positive answer. As they say, they owe us one.<br />KL ChewChewhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09682122652093098304noreply@blogger.com