THE MALACCA SULTANATE ERA

Malacca was once known as the 'Venice of the East' because of the trading
activities that create the link between the East and West. It then became the
meeting point of the various cultures such as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Arabians,
Portuguese, Dutch and English.

The success of the Malacca Sultanate at the time was not because of its
economics stability but also of its strong military system that gave safety
assurance for locals and traders.

THE DUTCH AND THE PORTUGUESE ERA

The Portuguese (1511) and the Dutch (1641) were two of the earliest ruling
powers that had successfully disbanded the 100-year-old empire of the Malaccan
Sultanate.

The modern and advanced firearms used by the invading foreign forces together
with a better defence strategy and discipline had made a great impact to the
evolution of the country’s military.

THE BRITISH ERA

In 1776, Francis Light made the British as the new ruling power by talking over
Penang Island from the government of Kedah as an assurance against intrusion
of Siamese and Bugis.

The invasion of the British Colonial started during the ‘Pangkor Treaty’ in 1874,
which had provoked the malay warriors such as Datuk Maharaja Lela in Perak,
Tok Janggut in Kelantan, Abdul Rahman Limbung in Terengganu, Datuk Bahaman
and Mat Kilau in Pahang as well as Datuk Kelana in Sungai Ujong.

The British defeated them easily due to their better technology in weapons and
strategic defences.

EARLY INDEPENDECE ERA

The Japanese Occupation was the toughest period of our country. The hard times
continued despite the defences of the British against the Japanese in 1945.
Concurrently the influence from the Malayan Communist Party towards the
Malayan People Anti Japanese Army caused riots in our country. These pain and
torture had given the Ground Armed Forces the strength and willpower to fight
for their rights.History has proven that their sacrifices had set our country free
from unbearable cruelties from the Japanese and Communist terrorists.

THE INDEPENDENCE ERA

Time after time, decades after decades, nonetheless the will power to fight off
the colonial Invasions never faded. Various efforts were made for the
independence of our country against the British colonial rule. On 31 August 1957
after achieving independence, the Army continued to grow in order to replace
the withdrawn British Colonial and the Commonwealth Army.

Nevertheless, threats from the Communists continued until the year 1960
when the first curfew ended. The confrontation between Malaysia and Indonesia
had put a mark in the history when the Independence of our country was
jeopardized by the Communists invasion in the year 1968.

This era saw a huge sacrifice towards both the army and the harmonyof the
Malaysian citizen. Without them, there is no doubt that our country would fall
into the hands of the Malayan Communists Party.

FORMATION OF MALAY REGIMENT

The Armed Forces operations had been called out to confiscate various weapons
and equipments from the Communists Terrorists. This is one of the evidences of
the battle and sacrifices.

History begun on 1st march 1933 with the formation of the Experimental
Company, consisting of 25 Malays in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.The success
of this formation was an upshot of the Malay leaders namely Sultan Alang
Iskandar Shah (Perak), Tuanku Muhamad Ibni Yam Tuan Antah (Negeri
Sembilan), Raja Chulan (Kerabat Perak)and datuk Abdullah Dahan (Undang Luak
Rembau).

The excellence of the Experimental Company is the ause of the real growth of
Malay Regiment and this lead to the formation of the first Battalion of the Malay
Regiment. The second Battalion was formed six days before the start of the
Japanese Occupation.