SEREMBAN: Soldiers from around the world, including the United States, come to Malaysia to train for jungle warfare simply because our troops are among the best in the world at this.
Lieutenant-Colonel Mohd Jailani Ismail should know. He is the chief planner for the latest edition of Exercise Keris Strike, a joint exercise held between the Malaysian army and the US Army Pacific Command (USARPAC).
“For our troops, entering the jungle is like going camping, but foreign troops are not used to it. They are usually too preoccupied thinking about possible attacks from wild or poisonous animals... they are even afraid of leeches.”
Jailani said the Malaysian armed forces, especially the army, was so well known for their experience and expertise in jungle warfare, especially when it comes to tropical rainforests, that many defence forces from around the world sought to train or exchange views with the nation’s security forces.
“Everyone knows that US troops are experts in conventional warfare and operations in various environments, including desserts. But they lack expertise and experience in operating in dense jungles. For Malaysian troops, that is our bread and butter.
“The forests in America are also different... they aren’t very dense, allowing for fields of vision of about 100m, whereas here the maximum is 20m. And, at night it is almost nil because of the thick canopy above our heads.
“Apart from that, their forests also do not have as many wild and poisonous animals as tropical jungles,” he said when met after the closing ceremony for the exercise at the parade ground of the 15th Battalion, Royal Malay Regiment, in Senawang recently.
Jailandi said, apart from sharing tactical lessons on jungle warfare with USARPAC, Malaysian soldiers also provided tips on how to avoid or defence against wild and poisonous animals.
“We taught them things that you won’t find in books or field manuals. Things like how to spray insect repellant on their fatigues so that not only insects but leeches do not attack them, and how to use sulphur and salt to protect themselves against other kinds of insects.
“In fact, they can even use the gunpowder from their bullets to ward off certain insects and poisonous animals as well,” he said.
Meanwhile, 3rd Division commander Major-General Datuk Hasagaya Abdullah said Malaysia’s expertise in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency was always a point of reference for other nations.
He said, besides Asean and the US, other countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, frequently held exercises with the Malaysian armed forces.
“Our expertise is in jungle warfare and counter-insurgency. We are also experts in survival tactics and combat tracking.
“The US has many times before called upon us to train their troops in survival tactics and combat tracking. In fact, many other countries learn from us in several series of joint exercises and training sessions, both here and overseas,” he said.