76th Anniversary of Royal Malay Regiment

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Yesterday, March 1 2009 is the day of 76th anniversary to the Royal Malay Regiment or in Malay "Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja". The anniversary also mark a history of 4 women soldiers.

Picture from New Straits Times

Capt Diana Hamdan, 27, from the First Royal Artillery Regiment, and Capt Siti Nurfarhana Mohd Aminuddin, 26, from the Royal Military Police Corps, received their "Military Wing Standard".
Capt Ungku Fatimah Zaharah Ungku Abu Bakar, 24, from the Royal Signals Regiment was the army's colours bearer and Capt Nornie Fathma Ab Rahman, 26, was the first female parade adjutant.

Army chief Gen Tan Sri Ismail Jamaluddin said there was no gender discrimination in the army.

"It is up to the individuals to determine their direction and if women are willing to shoulder the responsibility, the tasks and are tough, they can walk as tall as their male colleagues,"

he said after the Army Day celebration at the Sungai Besi army camp here.


Discriptions

The Royal Malay Regiment is one of two infantry regiments in the Malaysian Army. The regiment is the premier unit in the Malaysian Army. At its height, 27 battalions of the Malay Regiment were formed. At present, two battalions of the Malay Regiment are parachute trained and form a component of the Malaysian Army Rapid Deployment Force. Another battalion has converted into a mechanized infantry battalion. The remaining battalions are roled as standard light infantry battalions.

The 1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment is the ceremonial battalion for the King and is usually accompanied by the Central Band of the Malay Regiment.
As its name suggests, it only recruits ethnic Malays to its ranks.

The regiment is formed in 1 March 1933 in the Haig Lines, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. The action being made by the British after The Malay Rulers led by Sultan Alang Iskandar Shah (Sultan of Perak), Tuanku Muhamad Ibni Yam Tuan Antah (Negeri Sembilan), Raja Chulan (Perak Royal Family) and Dato Abdullah Haji Dahan (Undang Luak Rembau) have urged the British Colonial office for the formation of an army regiment raised from the local population.


Battalions

The RAMD has a total of 25 battalions. 20 of these are standard light infantry battalions, with 2 roled as mechanised infantry and 2 as parachute infantry. The final battalion is a support unit.

1st Battalion Royal Malay Regiment
The 1st Bn Royal Malay is the most senior infantry battalion of the Regiment. This was also the battalion group which Lieutanent Adnan Bin Saidi was posted to. In 2008, the 1st Battalion became the first overseas unit to provide the Queen's Guard at Buckingham Palace from a nation that was not a Commonwealth Realm.

Heroes

1. Leftenan Adnan Bin Saidi
   Adnan Bin Saidi led a 42-strong platoon from the Malay Regiment Bukit Chandu (Opium Hill) area on February 12-14, 1942. Although heavily outnumbered, Adnan refused to surrender and urged his men to fight until the end. They held off the Japanese for two days amid heavy enemy shelling and shortages of food and ammunition. Adnan was shot but carried on fighting. After the battle was lost, the wounded Adnan was taken prisoner by Japanese soldiers, who tied him to a cherry tree and bayoneted him to death. According to some, he was also slashed and his body parts were burnt. Adnan epitomises the bravery and tenacity of the Malay Regiment. Because of this, he is considered a hero by many Malaysians and Singaporeans today.
   
   
2. Kapten Hamid Awang
   Based on intelligence gathered indicating that a force of 40 to 50 communist terrorist would converge on Gunung Pueh, “D” Company of 2 Royal Malay Regiment led by Kapten Hamid was tasked in a search and destroy mission.
   On 7 April 1973, Kapten Hamid and his company detected a Communist Terrorist encampment. Kapten Hamid organised his company for an assault on the camp. Kapten Hamid fired an M79 grenade round to mark the start of the attack and rush into the Communist Terrorist camp. In the heat of battle, a communist terrorist tried to shoot down one of Kapten Hamid’s man. Kapten Hamid immediately rushed to the terrorist and hit the terrorist in the neck with the M79 grenade launcher.
   Kapten Hamid’s company scored 3 kills and captured 3 enemy weapons, as well as ammunition and assorted equipment. Kapten Hamid’s company suffered 1 KIA. Kapten Hamid was awarded the SP on 6 June 1973.