Malaysia

Malaysia

Malaysia was once part of the British Empire but achieved its independence in August 1957. The Malaysian Armed Forces (Angkatan Tentera Malaysia - ATM) consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force. In addition the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) protects the coasts and surrounding waters of the nation, while the Royal Malaysian Police (Polis Diraja Malaysia - PDRM) are largely responsible for internal security. Malaysia also has a National Service program sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.

The Malaysian Special Operations Force is a multi service force tasked with a counter-terrorism mission. It consists of the 10 Paratrooper Brigade, Grup Gerak Khas (GGK), Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL), Pasukan Khas Udara (PASKAU), Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK), Unit Gempur Marin (UNGERIN), Trup Tindakan Cepat (Rapid Actions Troops) and Special Task And Rescue (STAR).

Malaysian Camouflage Patterns

• The oldest camouflage pattern in Malaysian service is the M70 Brushstroke pattern, loosely based on the WW2 and 1950s era British designs. Several minor variations have been produced printed on different types of abrics. The pattern was in use with the Malaysian Armed Forces from the 1970s to approximately 1994.

• A new pattern was tested in the early 1990s, ostensibly to replaced the faithful brushstroke M70 design. Nicknamed "Cameronian," the pattern was reputedly based on ERDL type drawings and was only retained in service for approximately two years (1993-94). Surplus stocks remained in service with Pertahanan Awam (Civil Defense) personnel for a few years beyond this. Seen below (far left) alongside the old M70 and M94 patterns, the Cameronian design seems to have faded with repeated washings and may have been passed over general adoption for this reason.

• A new style camouflage design was introduced to the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1994. The M94 "woodland-stripe" pattern (also called zebra-stripe woodland) features horizontal stripes in black, brown and green on a khaki background.

• The Navy's special operations unit, Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL), began wearing a locally-made copy of the US m81 woodland camouflage pattern in 2000.

• This interesting pattern of black & bright red stripes on a tan background is worn by the National Fire & Rescue Service, Bomba dan Penyelamat (BOMBA).

• The Royal Malaysian Police General Operations Forces (Pasukan Gerakan Am) - formerly the Police Field Force (PFF) - have worn a camouflage design featuring diagonal stripes of black & yellow-green on a bright blue background from the 1990. The pattern would be replaced in 2005, but old stock continues to be worn by Border Police units patrolling the borders with Thailand and Indonesia.

• Participants in the Malaysian National Service Program (Khidmat Negara) began wearing a distinctive camouflage-like design in 2003. It is a horizontal pattern of black, dark blue & light blue on a white background.

• Circa 2005, the Pasukan Gerakan Am (PGA) of the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) replaced the old bright blue camouflage design with a more subdued pattern, having dark brown, dark blue & olive green shapes on a light olive green background.

• A desert version of the standard Malaysian Armed Forces stripe pattern was introduced in 2006 and has been worn by Malaysian military units deployed abroad in arid or desert regions. The pattern is known in the Malaysian language as Baju Celoreng Harimau Belang Gurun

• A special anti-smuggling unit (UPP) of the Malaysian Maritime Force wear a unique camouflage pattern having blotches of dark brown, pink, ochre, & maroon on a white background.

• Recently the Navy's special operations unit, Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL), have been observed wearing a locally-produced uniform in the US-designed "Universal Camouflage Pattern" (UCP). The pattern is also worn by the Special Tasks and Rescue (STAR) unit of the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA).

• A new, pixelated camouflage design was adopted for some units of the Royal Malaysian Police Force circa 2012. The design maintains a similar colorway to the previous design of the PDRM.

• The RELA Corps, or Ikatan Relawan Rakyat Malaysia (Volunteers of the Malaysian People), is a paramilitary, quasi-law enforcement unit primarily tasked with controlling illegal immigration. In 2013, it was announced that the Corps would begin issuing a pixelated camouflage pattern seen here. Two other color variations have also been observed, but as yet it is uncertain whether they will be in general circulation.

Other Camouflage Patterns worn by Malaysia

• The Malaysian contingent to Bosnia (SFOR) in 1996-98 wore British Army issue DPM windproof camouflage smocks and trousers. DPM was also worn for a time by 69 Commando Battalion.

Notes

We would like to acknowledge the assistance of Mr. Andreas Arphan for his helpful contributions to this page.