Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja

Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja (Royal Engineers Regiment) is a group combat support military units of the Malaysian Army that provides combat engineering and other engineering support to the Malaysian Army.

History

Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja was founded on 22 April 1953 with the formation of the 76 Federal Field Squadron Federation Engineers at Balaclava Lines in Kluang, Johor. The Squadron received their training at Nee Soon Barracks in Singapore and in Kluang. On 15 July 1957, 2 Engineer Squadron was formed with 201 officers and men transferred from 75 Malayan Field Squadron. 76 Federal Field Squadron, Federation Engineers was redesignated as 1 Engineer Squadron.

In July 1957, The Federation Army formed the Engineer Branch and Colonel RA Blakeway, OBE, was made the Chief of Engineers. The branch is now known the Engineer Directorate at the Malaysian Army HQ.

21 Skuadron Jurutera (Rejimen Askar Wataniah) and 22 Skuadron Jurutera (Rejimen Askar Wataniah) were both formed on 1 March 1962.

On 16th March 1962, the units were redesignated as Malayan Engineers. An Engineer Training Squadron was formed on 1 January 1964, to undertake the training of combat engineers. The squadron has since expanded and is presently the Institut Kejuruteraan Medan (IKEM). Rejimen Askar Jurutera was bestowed the title “Royal” on 6th June 1992.

Role and Responsibilities

In wartime, Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja is tasked with ensuring the ease and speed of mobility of friendly units by
* building roads, and other transport infrastructure, including bridges.
* building, repairs and maintenance of airstrips and landing zones
* Assault bridging
* Overcoming riverine obstacles
* Clearing of obstacles, minefields and booby traps
* provide shelter, water supply and build camps

Rejimen Askar Jurutera Diraja is also tasked to delay the advance of enemy forces by placing hindrances and obstacles

* laying road obstacles, minefields, abatises (defensive obstacle made by laying felled trees on top of each other)
* construction of camouflaged hides, bunkers and tank dugouts.

In times of peace, Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja assisted civilian authorities in handling of key ports and transport nodes, and provide heavy equipment to civil authorities during disasters.

Colonel In Chief and Motto

The present Colonel in Chief is Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Yusuff Izzuddin Shah, the present Sultan of Perak.

The Motto of Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja is “BERUSAHA BERFAEDAH”.

The regimental flag has horizontal bars of red, blue and yellow. The blue represents the renowned “Sapper Blue” colour used on Engineer tactical signs. Yellow represents the Malaysian Monarch and Red represent the sacrifices of the Regiment. [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/my%5Earmy.html]

Organisation

Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja currently has the following units

Regular Army

*3 Field Regiments.
**7 combat Engineer Squadrons
**3 Support Engineer Squadron
*1 Construction Regiment
*1 Parachute Engineer Squadron
*1 Engineer Squadron (Armoured)
*1 Engineer Squadron (Mechanised)

Reserves

*1 Field Regiment (Rejimen Askar Wataniah)
** 4 Field Squadrons (Rejimen Askar Wataniah)
*1 Field Regiment (Maintenance and Communications) (Rejimen Askar Wataniah)
**4 Expert Handling Regiments Rejimen Askar Wataniah).
***Port
***Railway
***Water
***Power Plants

Institut Kejuruteraan Medan (IKEM) (Field Engineering Institute)

Institut Kejuruteraan Medan (IKEM) handles all training requirements of Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja, specifically the training of the combat engineer. Combat engineer training is also made available to Army personnel from other regiments. The Commandant of the Institute is a Lt Colonel.

Rejimen Pengendalian Pakar (Rejimen Askar Wataniah)

Rejimen Pengendalian Pakar (Rejimen Askar Wataniah) and the Skuadron Jurutera Medan Pakar (Rejimen Askar Wataniah) are volunteer reserve regiments and squadrons of the Rejimen Askar Wataniah. These units specialise in the handling of ports, waterworks, railway or telecommunications.

Jabatanarah Perumahan dan Pembinaan

Jabatanarah Perumahan dan Pembinaan oversees the building of housing for Armed Forces Personnel as well as oversee the building of Army installations. The Directorate is headed by a Kolonel and assisted by officers from the Pegawai Tugas Ikhtisas (Professionally Accredited) officers as well as line officers of Rejimen Askar Jurutera Diraja.

Cawangan Pemetaan Pertahanan (Defence Mapping Branch)

Cawangan Pemetaan Pertahanan is based at the Malaysian Survey and Mapping Department (Jabatan Ukur dan Pemetaan) with the primary role of meeting the mapping requirements of the Malaysian Army. The Defence Mapping Branch is headed by a Leftenan Kolonel.

References

* [http://web.archive.org/web/20011110183526/http://army.mod.gov.my/rajd/ Malaysian Army Website]
* [http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/content.asp?y=2005&dt=0219&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Polis_%26_Tentera&pg=te_03.htm Utusan Malaysia Article]
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20021031003002/army.mod.gov.my Archived Malaysian Army Website]