Royal Ranger Regiment
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The Royal Ranger Regiment (Malay: Rejimen Renjer DiRaja; RRD) is an infantry regiment of the Malaysian Army. Although it is second in seniority to the Royal Malay Regiment (Rejimen Askar Melayu DiRaja; RAMD), the RRD can trace its origins back to the mid 19th century and the establishment of The Sarawak Rangers, the peacekeeping force in the Sarawak region. This force was absorbed by the Sarawak Constabulary in 1932, but the name was revived in 1941 as a British Colonial unit; this unit was captured by the Japanese in 1942.
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[edit] History
In 1948, at the beginning of the Malayan Emergency, groups of Iban trackers were recruited to help in the defence against the Communist Party of Malaya. These were regimented into the reformed Sarawak Rangers in 1953.
In 1963, following the founding of Malaysia, the unit was transferred from the British Colonial Forces to the new Malaysian Army, expanded into a multi battalion, multi ethnic regiment named Renjer Malaysia. This became the Rejimen Renjer in 1971, before being given the 'Royal' prefix and hence known as the Rejimen Renjer DiRaja (Royal Ranger Regiment) in 1992.
[edit] Present
The RRD follows the same pattern as the RAMD; it has a total of nine battalions, the majority of which are predominantly composed of light infantry, but also has battalions of mechanized infantry, parachute infantry.
The 8th Ranger Battalion is a component of 10 Para Brigade, one of the 3 parachute infantry battalions that forms the maintstay of the Army's Pasukan Atur Cepat. 7th Ranger Bn is presently configured as a mechanised infantry battalion, and is equipped with tracked IFVCs, some of which are armed with the Bushmaster 20mm gun.
[edit] Colonel in Chief
H.M. Syed Sirajuddin Ibni Al-marhum Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail, the Raja of Perlis is the present Colonel in Chief of the Regiment, appointed to that position on 19 September 2000. The chairman of Regiment is presently Mejar Jeneral Datuk Muhamad Effendi Mustafa.
[edit] Customs & Traditions
[edit] Hackle
Rejimen Renjer DiRaja is the sole Regiment or Corps of the Malaysian that is authorise dto incorporate the hackle as part of their uniform. Rejimen Renjer DiRaja uses a black hackle.
[edit] Motto
"Agik Idup Agik Ngelaban" it means,"As long as i live,I will still fight"
[edit] Dayak Dance(Ngajat)
As an infantry regiment whose recruits are drawn from every race and pribumi groupings of Malaysia, Rejimen Renjer Malaysia is full of cultural heritage. The Dayak Dance, originating from the Sarawak Dayak community is performed as a welcome to dignitaries.This is also due to the fact that this unit mainly consit of Dayak personnel.This dance in its real name is called the "Ngajat"
[edit] Notable Incidents
6th Ranger Ambush at Klian Intan
On 27 August 1970, in a successful ambush of communist terrorists near Tanah Hitam, Klian Intan in Perak, 5 Communist Terrorists (CTs) including a branch committee member were killed, and several weapons were captured by members of 6 Bn Ranger Regiment. Mejar Ismail bin Salleh, commading officer of Charlie Company and Leftenan Muda David Fu Chee Ming who was the platoon commander of 8 Platoon were awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani on 2 June 1971.
Based on information gathered by the Special Branch, that 60 Communist terrorists would be infiltrating Tanah Hitam moving on to Grik, Charlie Company with a complement of 3 officers and 94 other ranks were tasked to lay an ambush along the infiltration route. Charlie Company was split into 3 groups, with Company Hq and 9 Platoon forming the centre blocking force, 7 Platoon to the right and 8 Platoon to the left. The groups were given 2 days to prepare their ambush positions and lay booby traps and Claymore mines.
On 20 August, 1 Section consisting of 8 personnel heard the rustling of branches and bamboo being snapped by footfalls. 1 section immediately stood to in their bunkers. Renjer Abu bin Mat saw an armed CT on the trail, 35 meters from their bunker, a lead scout of a larger group. Renjer Abu bin Mat and Renjer Abu Samah Hj. Ibrahim who were manning the Section’s support GPMG, along with Lans Koperal Abdullah bin Nawi held their fire and continued their wait. Moments later, another CT appeared on the trail, and joined by another 2 CTs.
At 3.45 p.m., Lans Koperal Abdullah detonated his Claymore mine while the GPMG crew opened fire, joined by the LMG manned by Lans Koperal Karim bin Sidek manning the left bunker. At 4.20 p.m., the CTs ceased fire, even though movement could still be heard in the trail. 1 Section opened fire to suppress the CT’s movements. With nightfall, the CTs made an attempt to retrieve their fallen comrades. Mejar Ismail called for close in artillery support on the trail, walking the artillery rounds close to 1 Section’s position. The CTs withdrew before morning, leaving behind their dead. Searches the following morning revealed 5 dead CTs.
[edit] Battalions of Rejimen Renjer DiRaja
[edit] 1 Renjer
Almost exclusively composed of {Sea Dayak} Iban Soldiers and a small slice of Malay and Indian Officers when absorbed into the Malaysian Armed Forces, the 1st Battalion RRD remains the Icon Battalion of the Corps. Prior to the formation of Malaysia in 1963, the Sarawak Rangers gained their fearsome reputation during the Malayan Emergency. Concurrently in the Post Colonial reconstruction phase, the 1st Battalion fought on extensively against the CPM, the Terrorist SUPP (Sarawak United People's Party) affiliated PKKU and the TNI. Accounts from captured CTs in the 60s and 70s suggests that other than the Commandos, the CPM feared the deployment of the 1st Battalion in the immediate vicinity.
The 1st Battalion now remains active, although rather inexplicably the recruitment of Iban Stock has been gradually reduced by a large number over the last 20 years. It is now no different in composition to other mainline Battalions.
It is worth noting that in the 50s and 60s, the British SAS were taught in Jungle tracking by Iban Soldiers. The Iban being clearly far suited to warfare in that particular environment, and in the example of 22 SAS Regiment, Iban Trackers from the previous Malayan Scouts being attached to and serving in SAS Units.
[edit] 7 Renjer
7th Renjer was formed on 10 May 1970, at Quetta Camp in Kluang, Johor with an initial batch of 202 recruits formed into 2 rifle companies. The compelement was completed with the transfer of rifel company from each of 8th Malay, 2nd Renjer, 3rd Renjer and 4th Renjer. With the transfer of the companies, 7th Renjer achieved operational status.
[edit] 8 Renjer
8th Renjer was formed on 1 March 1973, 3 years after the formation of 7th Renjer. 8th Renjer was reconfigured as the first paarchute infantry battalion in the Malaysian Army, and achieved achieved operational status as a parachute infantry battalion on 1 July 1990
8th Renjer gained fame during the communist Insurgency in the 1970s and 1980s. 8th Renjer was previously involved in search and destroy missions against Communist Terrorists in Sarawak. From 1977, the battalion was particularly successful against Communist Terrorists in search and destroy missions in the Hulu Perak, Kinta dan Kuala Kangsar regions in Perak.
Several members of the battalion were awarded the nation's highest gallantry award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) and the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) medals. Pegawai Waran II Kanang anak Langkau remains to this day the only reciepient of both the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa and the Panglima Gagah Berani medals. Sarjan Michael Riman anak Bugat dan Sarjan Beliang anak Bali were both awarded the Panglima Gagah Berani medal.
