Jump to content

MALBATT

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Malaysia Battalion
Batalion Malaysia
Active16 September 1963 (1963-09-16) – present
Country Malaysia
Allegiance United Nations
Branch Malaysian Armed Forces
Royal Malaysia Police[1][2]
TypeDeployment
RolePeacekeeping
Nickname(s)MALBATT
EngagementsVarious peacekeeping missions for the United Nations, see below

The Malaysia Battalion (Abbr.: MALBATT; Malay: Batalion Malaysia) refers to the Malaysian military battalion including personnel from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) serving overseas as part of a United Nations (UN) peacekeeping force.[1]

History

[edit]

Early foundation

[edit]

The peacekeeping contingent traced its history as the successor of the former Malayan Special Forces (MSF) of the Federation of Malaya, which had been involved in the United Nations Operation in the Congo (UNOC) from 1960 until 1963.[3] From 1988 until 1991, the Malaysian contingent sent its military observers to the United Nations Iran–Iraq Military Observer Group (UNIIMOG).[4] One of the first major deployment for the MALBATT contingent after the federation formation was during the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia from 1989 until 1990 to observe the withdrawal of South African Defence Force (SADF) and disbandment of the South West African Territorial Force (SWATF) in the South African Border War.[5][6]

1990s

[edit]

Through the Cambodian conflicts in the 1990s, MALBATT was first deployed with only two personnel for the United Nations Advance Mission in Cambodia (UNAMIC);[2][7] to oversee a ceasefire in the country before further additional MALBATT troops, consisting of 2,119 personnel for the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC), were deployed to maintain law and order and rebuild essential Cambodian infrastructure during the transitional period.[2] In 1991, MALBATT was dispatched as part of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) to observe the implementation of ceasefire between the Polisario Front and Moroccan troops.[5] From 1992 until 1993, MALBATT military personnel were deployed to the United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM).[5][8] Along the same year in 1991 until 1995, MALBATT troops were dispatched to the United Nations Angola Verification Mission II (UNAVEM II) to enforce a ceasefire in the Angolan Civil War.[5] From 1993, four MALBATT officers were sent for the United Nations Military Liaison Team (UNMLT), which was established for a single period of six months to maintain close liaison with the government of Cambodia and report to the UN Secretary-General on matters affecting security in the country and assist the government in dealing with residual military matters related to the Paris Peace Agreements.[2][9]

Further MALBATT troops consisting of 3,206 personnel including from the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) were deployed as part of the United Nations Operation in Somalia II (UNOSOM II) from 1993.[1][5][10] This contingent served to monitor ceasefire in the country, providing protection for UN personnel and to escort and protecting the deliveries of humanitarian supplies.[10] Troops from MALBATT were also involved in Operation Gothic Serpent, during which they engaged the forces of the Somali National Alliance (SNA) in the battle of Mogadishu to rescue surviving American Rangers trapped in the hostile territory after their helicopters were shot down;[11] despite incurring casualties throughout the mission, the MALBATT team succeeded in rescuing survivors.[12] Between 20–24 military officers and 35 police officers of the MALBATT team were attached to the UN Observer Mission of the United Nations Operation in Mozambique (ONUMOZ) from 1993 until 1994 to monitor ceasefire, decommissioning of weapons, withdrawal of foreign troops, and disbanding of private and irregular armed groups, among other things, as a result of the Mozambican Civil War.[13] From 1993 until 1997, MALBATT also contributing troops for the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL),[14] the United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone (UNOMSIL) from 1998,[15] and the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) from 1999 to 2005.[16]

Along the same year in 1993, Malaysia's participation in the peacekeeping operation in the former Yugoslavia through the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) during the Yugoslav Wars involving the deployment of three MALBATT battalions consisting 4,369 troops both from the military and police;[13] along with additional two contingents of Malaysia Contingent (MALCON) through Implementation Force (IFOR) and Stabilisation Force (SFOR) placed under the directive of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) following a mandate to protect Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Dayton Agreement signed in 1995.[17] Both Malaysia and its neighbour of Indonesia (Garuda Contingent) were the only two countries from Southeast Asia that contributing both of their military and police personnel to the UN forces for the mission.[18] Through this, MALBATT were part of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) until 1998.[5] From May–June 1994, MALBATT observers drawn from the mission of MINURSO were deployed to the United Nations Aouzou Strip Observer Group (UNASOG); led by Colonel B. Mazlan where they meet with the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya authorities to supervise the withdrawal process of Libyan forces from the Aozou Strip as a result of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decision on the Libya–Chad Territorial Dispute case.[19]

MALBATT is among the personnel contributor to the United Nations Angola Verification Mission III (UNAVEM III) from February 1995 until June 1997,[20] contributing 19 military observers and 20 civilian police.[21] Further troops were contributed to the United Nations Observer Mission in Angola (MONUA).[22] From April 1998 until April 1999, MALBATT Brigadier-General Tengku Ariffin Mohammed became the Chief Military Observer for the United Nations Mission of Observers in Tajikistan (UNMOT).[23] The 1999 East Timorese crisis saw the further participation of Malaysian peacekeepers in both the International Force East Timor (INTERFET) and the United Nations Mission in East Timor (UNAMET); with the objective to aiding the mission carry out its tasks and facilitate the implementation of humanitarian aid operations.[3] Subsequently, its military members were assigned as interpreters for the United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET).[3]

2000s

[edit]

From 2000 until 2008, Malaysian peacekeepers were dispatched to the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE).[24][25][26] Between 2002 until 2005, MALBATT military personnel and police personnel were deployed to the United Nations Mission of Support to East Timor (UNMISET); to which the mission led by Lieutenant-General Khairuddin Mat Yusof from 2003 to 2005.[27] From September 2003, MALBATT troops deployed for the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) to support the implementation of the ceasefire and the subsequent peace process of Second Liberian Civil War, including the disarmament, demobilisation, reintegration and repatriation (DDRR) of combatants.[28] From 2004, Malaysian peacekeepers began hosting peace talks between the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Philippine government in the Moro conflict which was followed by the formation of International Monitoring Team (IMT) led by Malaysia.[29][30][31] Malaysian peacekeepers were also part of the contributing nations for the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM) led by the European Union (EU) to oversee the peace process in Aceh between the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM).[32]

From June 2004 until December 2006, MALBATT military personnel deployed to the United Nations Operation in Burundi (ONUB).[33] In the aftermath of the 2006 East Timorese crisis, MALBATT forces were deployed as part of United Nations Integrated Mission in East Timor (UNMIT) through the Operation Astute led by Australia.[34][35] The contingent involved in providing assistance in human resource development activities through various training programs in East Timor efforts to rebuild their country.[35] Since 2007, the Malaysian government has authorised the participation of Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) through MALBATT to join other countries peacekeeping forces to enforce Resolution 1701 of the United Nations Security Council as part of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).[36] By 2008, neighbouring Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) also form a part of MALBATT forces in Lebanon.[37] Until May 2024, a total of five Malaysian peacekeepers have died during the mission.[38] MALBATT military and police personnel have also been deployed to the United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) from 2007 until 2020.[39][40] In 2009, fourteen officers from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), which is part of the MALBATT contingent took part as arms monitor for the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN).[41]

2010s, 2020s–present

[edit]

Further Malaysia's participation in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in 2010 were placed under the directive of NATO; which is similar as the MALCON in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the previous IFOR and SFOR mission under NATO.[42] From 2019, MALBATT troops were deployed to the UN Mission to Support the Hodeidah Agreement (UNMHA).[43] Further in 2023, two MAF officers were deployed for the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA).[44]

Deployments

[edit]
Location(s) Operation MAF and RMP Deployment Period
 Iran
 Iraq		 UNIIMOG MALBATT Contingent:
* Military observers[4][32][45]		 August 1988 – March 1991
 Namibia UNTAG MALBATT Contingent[6][32] April 1989 – March 1990
Iraq UNOSGI MALBATT Contingent[32][45] 1991 – 1992
Iraq
 Kuwait		 UNIKOM MALBATT Contingent:
* Military observers[8][32][45]		 1992 – 2003
Western Sahara MINURSO MALBATT Contingent:
* Experts on mission[5][32][45]		 April 1991 – present
 Angola UNAVEM II MALBATT Contingent[32][45][46] June 1991 – February 1995
 Cambodia UNAMIC MALBATT Contingent[32][45] October 1991 – March 1992
 Bosnia and Herzegovina UNMLOY MALBATT Contingent[32][45] 1992 – 1996
Cambodia UNTAC MALBATT Contingent[32][45] March 1992 – September 1993
 Mozambique ONUMOZ MALBATT Contingent[32][45] December 1992 – December 1994
Bosnia and Herzegovina UNPROFOR MALBATT Contingent[32][45] 1993 – 1995
 Somalia UNOSOM II MALBATT Contingent[32][45] March 1993 – March 1995
 Liberia UNOMIL MALBATT Contingent[14][32][45] September 1993 – September 1997
Cambodia UNMLT MALBATT Contingent[32][45] 1993 – 1994
 Chad UNASOG MALBATT Contingent:
* Military observers[19][32][45]		 May – June 1994
 Tajikistan UNMOT MALBATT Contingent:
* Chief military observers[23][32][45]		 December 1994 – May 2000
Angola UNAVEM III MALBATT Contingent[20][32][45] February 1995 – June 1997
Bosnia and Herzegovina UNMBIH MALBATT Contingent[32][45] December 1995 – December 2002
Bosnia and Herzegovina IFOR MALBATT Contingent[32][45] December 1995 – December 1996
Bosnia and Herzegovina SFOR MALBATT Contingent[32][45] December 1996 – 1998
Angola MONUA MALBATT Contingent[22][32][45] June 1997 – February 1999
 Sierra Leone UNOMSIL MALBATT Contingent[15][32][45] July 1998 – October 1999
 Afghanistan UNSMA MALBATT Contingent[32][47] 1998 – 1999
 Kosovo UNMIK MALBATT Contingent[32][47] June 1999 – present
Sierra Leone UNAMSIL MALBATT Contingent:
* Police forces[16][32][47]		 October 1999 – December 2005
 East Timor UNTAET MALBATT Contingent[32][47] October 1999 – May 2002
 DR Congo MONUC MALBATT Contingent[32][47] November 1999 – present
Liberia UNOL MALBATT Contingent[32][47] 1999
East Timor UNAMET MALBATT Contingent[32][47] 1999
East Timor INTERFET MALBATT Contingent[32][47] 1999 – 2002
 Ethiopia
 Eritrea		 UNMEE MALBATT Contingent[32][47] July 2000 – July 2008
East Timor UNMISET MALBATT Contingent[27][32][47] May 2002 – May 2005
Liberia UNMIL MALBATT Contingent[28][32][47] September 2003 – present
 Burundi ONUB MALBATT Contingent[33][48] May 2004 – January 2007
 Philippines IMT MALBATT IMT Contingent:[29][30][31][48]
* Armed forces
* Police forces		 October 2004 – June 2022
East Timor UNMIT MALBATT Contingent[48] August 2006 – December 2012
 Nepal UNMIN MALBATT Contingent:
* Arms monitor[41][48]		 January 2007 – January 2011
 Lebanon UNIFIL MALBATT Contingent[36][48] 2007 – present
 Sudan UNAMID MALBATT Contingent[39][40][48] July 2007 – December 2020
 South Sudan UNMISS MALBATT Contingent:
* Police forces[49]		 July 2011 – present
Sudan UNISFA MALBATT Contingent:
* Two armed forces members[44][48]		 2012 – present
 Yemen UNMHA MALBATT Contingent[48] January 2019 – present

Units involved

[edit]

 Malaysian Armed Forces

Royal Malaysia Police

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Jeshurun 2007, p. 250.
  2. ^ a b c d Salleh & Idris 2021, p. 57.
  3. ^ a b c "Misi PBB" [PBB Mission]. Malaysian Army (in Malay). Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Iran-Iraq - UNIIMOG (Background)". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g Millet & Editions Didier Millet 2009, p. 37.
  6. ^ a b Salleh & Idris 2021, p. 56.
  7. ^ "Cambodia - UNAMIC". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  8. ^ a b "Iraq/Kuwait - UNIKOM - Facts and Figures". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  9. ^ "Where we served - Cambodia". United Nations and Overseas Policing Association of Australia. Retrieved 1 December 2024. The countries of Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belgium, Brunei, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, the People's Republic of China, Chile, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Malaysia, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, the Russian Federation, Senegal, Thailand, Tunisia, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the United States of America and Uruguay provided military observers, police or troops to this Mission.
  10. ^ a b Salleh & Idris 2021, p. 58.
  11. ^ Games & Bujeiro 2012, p. 30.
  12. ^ Stewart & Center of Military History 2002, p. 10.
  13. ^ a b Salleh & Idris 2021, p. 59.
  14. ^ a b "Liberia - UNOMIL". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b "Sierra Leone - UNOMSIL". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  16. ^ a b "Sierra Leone - UNAMSIL - Facts and Figures". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  17. ^ Marcinkowski, Chevallier-Govers & Harun 2011, p. 41.
  18. ^ Jeshurun 2007, p. 251.
  19. ^ a b "REPORT OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNING THE AGREEMENT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE JUDGMENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE CONCERNING THE TERRITORIAL DISPUTE BETWEEN CHAD AND THE LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. 27 April 1994. p. 3. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via United Nations Peacekeeping.
  20. ^ a b "Angola - UNAVEM III - [UNITED NATIONS ANGOLA VERIFICATION MISSION III]". United Nations Peacekeeping. 30 June 1997. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Angola - UNAVEM III - [UNITED NATIONS ANGOLA VERIFICATION MISSION III - Contributors of Personnel]". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  22. ^ a b "Angola - MONUA - Facts and Figures". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  23. ^ a b "Tajikistan - UNMOT - Facts and Figures [Chief Military Observers]". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  24. ^ "Ethiopia and Eritrea - UNMEE - Facts and Figures [Contributors of Military Personnel]". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024. Algeria, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Namibia, Nepal, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay and Zambia.
  25. ^ "Progress report of the Secretary-General on Ethiopia and Eritrea" (PDF). United Nations Security Council. 19 June 2001. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Permanent Court of Arbitration.
  26. ^ "UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea is withdrawn". United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  27. ^ a b "East Timor - UNMISET - Facts and Figures". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  28. ^ a b "Update Report No.2: Liberia". Security Council Report. 11 November 2005. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  29. ^ a b "Malaysia confirms Philippine peace talks start in April". Associated Press. 22 February 2004. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Taipei Times.
  30. ^ a b "TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING TEAM (IMT)" (PDF). Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU), Philippines. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  31. ^ a b Teofilo Garcia, Jr. (5 August 2021). "Malaysian-led IMT vows full support to AFP peace campaigns". Philippine News Agency. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  32. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah "Malaysian Armed Forces Involvement in Peacekeeping Challenges and Lessons Learnt" (PDF). Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via ASEAN Regional Forum.
  33. ^ a b "Burundi - ONUB - Facts and Figures". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Peacekeepers arrive in East Timor amid fierce gunbattles". Associated Press. 26 May 2006. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Taipei Times.
  35. ^ a b Osman, Johari (8 November 2024). "Malbatt cermin komitmen, keprihatinan Malaysia terhadap keamanan global" [Malbatt reflects Malaysia's commitment, concern for global peace]. The Malaysia Press (in Malay). Archived from the original on 24 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  36. ^ a b "KUMPULAN PERTAMA MALBATT 850-11 KE LUBNAN" [FIRST GROUP MALBATT 850-11 TO LEBANON]. Malaysian Armed Forces (in Malay). 2 November 2023. Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  37. ^ "THE TRANSFER OF AUTHORITY CEREMONY AND MEDAL PRESENTATION FOR MALBATT 850-9". Ministry of Defence, Brunei Darussalam. 12 November 2022. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  38. ^ "UNIFIL, LAF pay tribute to fallen Malaysian peacekeeper". United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon. 23 May 2024. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  39. ^ a b "Closure of UNAMID". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  40. ^ a b "14 PEGAWAI PDRM SERTAI TUGAS MISI PENGAMAN DI DARFUR (UNAMID)" [14 PDRM OFFICERS JOIN THE PEACEKEEPING MISSION IN DARFUR (UNAMID)]. Royal Malaysia Police (in Malay). 18 April 2015. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  41. ^ a b "VISIT TO UNMIN Cantonment Biratnagar". Embassy of Malaysia, Kathmandu (Press release). 10 January 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia.
  42. ^ "Malaysia becoming the 47th Contributor to ISAF". Atlantic Council. 2 August 2010. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  43. ^ "Letter dated 14 October 2019 from the Secretary General addressed to the President of the Security Council [United Nations Mission to Support the Hudaydah Agreement deployment and operations]" (PDF). Security Council Report. 15 October 2019. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  44. ^ a b "KRISIS DI SUDAN : STATUS TERKINI TIGA RAKYAT MALAYSIA" [CRISIS IN SUDAN: LATEST STATUS OF THREE MALAYSIAN CITIZEN] (Press release) (in Malay). 3 May 2023. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Two Malaysians are currently participating in the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) mission in the Abyei region, Sudan. They are Major Zazalina Binti Ghazali and Lt. Kdr. Naadifarin Binti Che Kamaruddin.
  45. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Aziz 2014, p. 195.
  46. ^ Hafis Nawawi, Muhaamad (21 July 2021). "Berdepan Militan FAA" [Encountering FAA Militant]. Harian Metro (in Malay). Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2024.
  47. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Aziz 2014, p. 196.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h "ENHANCING MAF FEMALE SOLDIER'S CAPABILITIES TO BE DEPLOYED WITH MALBATT AS PEACEKEEPERS" (PDF). Malaysian Peacekeeping Centre. 2023. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Association of Asia-Pacific Peacekeeping Training Centers (AAPTC).
  49. ^ Hasim, Normalina (2 November 2022). "STATEMENT BY COLONEL SHAMSURI NOORDIN, MILITARY ADVISER, PERMANENT MISSION OF MALAYSIA TO THE UNITED NATIONS AT THE SPECIAL POLITICAL AND DECOLONIZATION COMMITTEE (FOURTH COMMITTEE) OF THE 77th SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY". Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations (UN), New York (Press release). Archived from the original on 30 November 2024. Retrieved 1 December 2024 – via Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Malaysia. Beginning on 10 October 2022, 10 Individual Police Officer's (IPO's) from the Royal Malaysia Police began their deployment in the United Nations Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS). In addition, 103 police personnel consisting of 83 men and 20 women, who recently passed the UN Selection Assistance and Assessment Team (SAAT), are ready to be deployed as blue helmets.

Bibliography

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=MALBATT&oldid=1260592876"