SHAH ALAM: Capability Demonstration 4th Mechanised Brigade. Fourth Mechanised Brigade (4th Mech) based at Kuantan, Pahang, hold a capability demonstration parade recently for visiting Third Division Commander Mej. Gen Tengku Muhammad Fauzi Tengku Ibrahim. Tengku Muhammad was promoted as the GOC of the division in late July, he was previously the Assistant Chief of Staff, operations and training of the Joint Force Command.
The units that took part in the parade were 12th RMR , 14th RMR, 19th RMR, 7th Royal Ranger Regiment, 1 Armour, 4 Semboyan, 4 Angkut and 4 Workshop. All of the units are designated as mechanised befitting their host brigade. Fourth Mechanised Brigade is commanded by Brig. Gen. Reizal Arif Ismail. Reizal had served twice as the commander of the Malaysian contingent in Lebanon.
As part of the demonstration, the unit’s various Kenderaan Jenis A (Type A Vehicles – armoured) were displayed from the Adnan, MIFV and the Gempita. Also taking part were the various vehicles supporting the brigade from its tank carriers to mobile signals units.
A Volvo heavy recovery vehicle from 1 Workshop was also displayed. These are the two Volvos bought as part of the Gempita project.
As I arrived late for the event I missed some of the demonstrations held – Future Soldier System platoon and sniper system – but as it was held in on the parade grounds, I guess I did not really missed too much. The various KJA also took turns to demonstrate their capabilities from the Baktar Shikan equipped Adnans to the Ingwe armed Gempitas. Again as the demonstration was held on the parade ground, no ammo -live or training were expanded.
A company from 7 RRD also demonstrated their capabilities to respond to crowd control and riots. The unit if you remember is designated as the Army ready battalion. For riot control, the soldiers were equipped with the proper equipment though with Adnans supporting them it would be really intimidating for any possible rioters.
The last demonstration held for the day was a troop of Adnans and Gempitas, separately, showing their combat formation for the GOC. For more pictures check out the slides below
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (147)
Right now i believe only 2 units operating gempita in 4th brigade. They are 1 armor and 19 RAMD.
12 RAMD, 14RAMD and 7 RRD are equipped with Adnan/MIFV (plus some others in 11 armor and armor sqn para)
Any future plans announced for 4th brigade and 3rd division? Any news of converting 1st brigade into armoured brigade?
I am for the 4th brigade to be a fully wheeled formation with gempitas (that means 2 more infantry battalions worth of gempita need to be ordered). All the Adnan/MIFV moved to 1st brigade to from a fully tracked formation (with 2 battalions of MBT plus 2 battalions of mechanised tracked infantry)
I also think that we need more of the likes of the volvo HRV. Singapore has bought 700 MAN HRV with armoured cabins. I think we should have at least 50-100 of them.
mr marhalim, why the pic in your post nowadays cant be click??used to be able to click...
Reply
The application did not allow it nowdays no idea why
Nothing being fired, how to show Capability? So just a parade of various vehicles ala Merdeka Day? A dress rehearsal for Merdeka parade?
how i wish there was an announcement of MBT and Gempita 2nd batch....but i wonder, which MBT would the army choose for the 2nd batch? would be still the PT91 or something newer perhaps?
It's a demo not actual exercise.
"Nothing being fired, how to show Capability? So just a parade of various vehicles ala Merdeka Day? A dress rehearsal for Merdeka parade?"
What rubbish. You can fire all you want at Asahan and it won't be a "show of capability."
You'll show a lot more capability and credibility if you held a challenging enough exercise, despite not having fired a single shot.
Joe,
It is basically just a grand welcoming party for the 3rd Division commander, a repeat of spectacle shown to ministers and such plenty of times already this year. Capability can be shown by plenty of ways, from powerpoint slides up to actually attacking an adversary.
mustaffa,
We all wish for various things but as it stands there are no immediate plans to get follow on MBTs and AV-8s. Neither has the requirement been registered and and approved by MINDEF and the Ministry of Finance.
AM - “You’ll show a lot more capability and credibility if you held a challenging enough exercise, despite not having fired a single shot”
Very true. A challenging exercise in which the unit and supporting elements deploy and in which unexpected scenarios or challenges are thrown in.
“Firepower demonstrations” are just that; intended for the top brass, media, foreign military attaches and students of Haigate - it’s not an actual demonstration of true capabilities.
P.S.
mustaffa,
Politics and finances will dictate what tank we buy to replace or supplement the PT-91.
The PT-91 is based on a design first worked on in the 1960’s, a design based on a Soviet Cold War “hit avoidance” philosophy which the Russians have now dropped, is fitted with a carousel loader which is extremely vulnerable due to the placement of rounds on the turret floor and sides; is fitted with various components with a 1990’s/early 2000’s lineage and has reached the end of its growth potential.
Based on those factors: ideally a design offering better survivability. ergonomics, networking, growth potential, etc, will be selected when the time comes to get a new tank (whenever that is.
As it stands follow on MBTs and AV-8s are paper requirements.
@AM
"You’ll show a lot more capability and credibility if you held a challenging enough exercise"
Its misleading to call it a "capability demonstration". More like "asset display" is the right term to use. As you mentioned, some capability can be shown at Asahan. Better than this.
@mustaffa
Is there even a need to get more MBTs? Maybe at East Malaysia if Indon really goes thru with relocating their capital to Kalimantan and decides to defend it with their MBTs, but that idea sounds so implausible the ministers would rather relocate to Bali instead.