UPON gaining independence on Aug 31, 1957, the Federation of Malaya joined the United Nations (UN) on Sept 17, 1957. As a small and developing nation facing a communist insurgency, Malaya had the political will and commitment in promoting international peace and security as stipulated in the UN Charter.
Three years later, following the UN Security Council Resolution 143 (1960) in July 1960, Malaya was selected to participate in the UN Force in the Congo (ONUC). The mandate of ONUC was to facilitate the withdrawal of Belgian troops, maintain law and order, help to establish and legitimise the post-colonial government of Congo (later became Zaire and now known as Democratic Republic of Congo).
As a commitment towards international peace and security, a contingent of 1,947 military personnel, known as the Malayan Special Force to the Congo, was despatched and served from October 1960 to April 1963. As emphasised by the first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, the new nation should visibly demonstrate its faith in the UN by responding positively to its peacekeeping role at the international level. This was indeed an honour to a newly-independent nation of Malaya and testimony of our credibility in promoting peace and stability.
This discussion highlights Malaysia’s contributions to the UN peacekeeping operations which have attained international recognition with respect to promoting peace and security. As the first nation from the Southeast Asian region that successfully participated in ONUC, the Malaysian peacekeeping force has continued to maintain a number of firsts and acceptability at international level.
On Jan 1, 1965, Malaysia was elected to serve as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, which is another high level achievement, but the selection/achievement created an upset in Jakarta.
In the same year, the Republic of Indonesia, while pursuing a policy of confrontation against the newly-formed Federation of Malaysia, withdrew as a member of the UN and its related agencies. However, before the opening of the UN General Assembly Session in September 1966, Indonesia rejoined the UN.
With a strong track record of promoting peace and security in our foreign policy, in the voting for the UN Security Council seat for 1989/1990, Malaysia received 143 votes out of 170 member states of the UN. As a member of the UN Security Council, it was most timely to participate in the peacekeeping operations with the flare up in Namibia in the same year. The Security Council established the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) in Namibia on Feb 16, 1989, with the responsibility for monitoring the ceasefire, overseeing the withdrawal of the South Africa Defence Force, and controlling the borders.
Once again, Malaysia was selected to provide an infantry battalion to be part of the military component. The deployment of the Malaysian contingent in UNTAG was the second successful contribution in peacekeeping operations after a lapse of nearly three decades of being inactive. Also, this marked the beginning of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) playing key roles in providing military contingents and observers for peacekeeping operations, especially with the commitment of the Malaysian contingent for the UN Transitional Administration in Cambodia in early 1992 and continued to participate in other peacekeeping missions as required by the UN.
In recognition of the MAF’s committed effort in peacekeeping, which has impressed UN policymakers, especially the Security Council, the UN gave the honour to Malaysia on Jan 18, 1994, when Lieutenant-General Aboo Samah Aboo Bakar was selected as the first Malaysian force commander of the UN Operation in Somalia (UNOSOM II), replacing General Cevik Bir from Turkey. In the history of peacekeeping operations since 1948, Aboo Samah was also the first force commander from Southeast Asia.
There are two other important firsts scored by Malaysia.
With the need to keep abreast with the doctrine and to maintain high standard of training, the fact that peacekeepers have to operate in more complex and dangerous environments, the MAF pursued with bold commitment to establish the Peacekeeping Training Centre in Port Dickson in June 9, 1995, and it was recognised by the UN as the first training centre in the region.
To date, the centre has trained 1,931 Malaysian officers and 612 international participants from 52 countries. In addition, to ensure coordination and planning for participation in future deployment of Malaysian contingents, including military or police observers to mission areas in accordance with procedures of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations at the UN headquarters, MAF approved the appointment of a military adviser at the Malaysian Permanent Mission to the UN in New York in January 1996.
Indeed, Malaysia is not only the first Asean member to have a military adviser dedicated for peacekeeping duties at the Permanent Mission, but also joins the community of 50 military advisers or police advisers of UN member states.
In conclusion, the Malaysian peacekeeping force has continued to exert its influence with credibility and capability at the international arena, especially with a commitment by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to provide an infantry battle group for the UN Standby Force for peacekeeping operations during the UN Peacekeeping Summit in New York on Oct 2.
Of significant importance, MAF has participated in 35 peacekeeping operations with the deployment of more than 30,000 military and police personnel successfully, but with 18 killed as casualties.
The writer is a senior fellow, Department of Strategic Studies, National Defence University of Malaysia and former military adviser at the permanent mission of Malaysia to the United Nations