Special Forces in Malaysia

After the National Service I became quite interested in Malaysia's Special Forces after meeting some ex-SF guys in camp. There was once this instructor who was an ex-PASKAL, the Malaysian equivelant of the Navy SEALs, he seemed to be strict all the time and I don't blame him to be like that. So here is a brief run through about the Special Forces in Malaysia.

As I said before, PASKAL is the equivalent of the Navy SEALs in Malaysia. Trained by the SEALs, SAS and Indonesia's Kopaska, they are quite the Donald Trump in underwater demolition. They're hardcore.



This is the VAT 69, named after the whiskey of the same name. Trained by the SAS, they are jump and dive qualified. Formed by the government to track down communist terrorist in the 70s inside the deep forest of Malaya. The picture below shows them in their new camo uniform. VAT 69 were also involved with the Al-Maunah case where they cooperated with GGK (Grup Gerak Khas or Special Actions Group, look below)



PASKAU is the airforce's elite commando unit. Their main task is to sabotage enemy airbases, rescue pilot behind enemy lines, combat search and rescue, and marking designated target for pilots. These people are the ones who blow up enemy planes before they get off the ground.



GGK or Grup Gerak Khas is the Army's Special Actions Group. These boys are trained by American Green Berets and was formed the SAS. These people come in when situations conventional army infantry could not handle. They also could be deployed through Delta-ish tactics, winning the hearts and mind of people. They normally work closely with Indonesia's Kopassus, another elite group in South East Asia.


When the Malaysian Coast Guards were formed a few years ago, there was demand for assistance for special units as certain situations couldn't be handled by conventional forces. When pirates are armed to the extend of a small Navy, conventional warfare is probably not the brightest idea. Unconventional warfare such as sabotage, demolition and espionage could be the trick of the trade here. Hence, the government formed the STAR team or the Special Tactics and Rescue for the Coast Guards. Formed from PASKAU and PASKAL troopers that were absorbed into the Coast Guards. These guys may be new but they are hard hittin' commandos, ready to take pirates and terrorist at sea.