SHAH ALAM: RMR Museum. Remember the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) Museum in Port Dickson? I had visited it some time back (around 2007). However whenever I got back to Port Dickson all this time, it remained closed. I feared that the museum had been closed for good as the caretaker when I visited it back then said it might be so as the Army was in the process of setting up its own museum. Therefore there was no need for each unit to have their own museum.
The RMR Museum. It is located along Jalan Pantai, Port Dickson, next to the Seri Bayu R&R and opposite of Bayu Beach Resort
So it was a pleasant surprise when I went to Port Dickson on Dec 27 and found the RMR museum was opened for visitors. It appears that the museum had survived unlike the Armour Corps museum, located outside the 2 Armor Camp also in Port Dickson, just before the training centre.
The retired Fourth RMR regimental colours displayed at the museum. The Third RMR colours was on the opposite wall.
Actually the RMR museum is barely surviving though the Beretta AR-70 assault rifle was still there with the other displays which I saw some time back including a Panhard APC placed outside the museum, a converted single storey quarters. A Commando APC and two L70 Bofi guns were also placed in the compound though it is likely these were placed there for storage. Despite this, I feel a certain connection with the RMR museum as my father had served with the 4th RMR.
The sole firearms display at the museum. The Beretta AR-70 is the second rifle in the display. The AK and shotgun below were confiscated from the CTs.
I brought him to Port Dickson a few years back to visit the museum but it was closed for “renovations”. He died early this year without ever visiting the museum.
A close up of the AR-70 and the Jungle Carbine.
So the tears well up when I found the museum also displayed his old regimental colours together with one from 3rd RMR.
The Mark 8 2 inch mortar
For a full experience visit the Army museum together with RMR one. The RMR museum is opened from Saturday to Wednesday from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (6)
4 RAMD...was also known as Gurkha malaya for their prowness and tenacity...and was equipped with Panhard M3 VTT and V100 APC when it was based in sg besi camp....
Ah....it's nice to see an old friend again,the Baretta AR70,which it shares a lot of similarities with the AK47.
On the 4RAMD regimental colours, the "pulau singapura" tab minus year on it indicates? Because the other two tabs have year on it.
First rifle from top of the rack is an odd one to me, at a glance it look like a pistol with a shotgun/rifle butt. No underbarrel handguard and unfortunately no magazine. The pic around the nameplate is blurred, can't figure out its name.
The rifles display can be improved with every rifle comes with its magazines. AK47 with the curved magazine and AR70 with a straight mag, jungle carbine with 5-round self ejecting mag?
Reply
The Third RMR colours had the same writings, no explaination. Its a skeletal Jungle Carbine likely used to train armourers on the system. Yes I think it will be nice if they had the magazine on the Beretta. As for Jungle Carbine, yes it will be nice if they had the five clip round on it.
Zamrij,
If I’m not mistaken the unit was called as such because when it was raised the British officers and NCOs (including actual Nepalis) were mainly from a Gurkha regiment. At that time of course all RMR units consisted of British offices and NCOs; there just weren’t enough trained locals
Marhalim. thanks for all the reports. Those guns on exhibition, IMHO are from the Emergency period 1 & 2.
I usually find it weird that a Bofor L70/40 AAA is pronounced as Bofi. Why? Thank you for the answer.
Reply
Its the acronym for Bofors Opt tronic fire control instrument
The "skeletal Jungle Carbine" is actually part of a full size Enfield, looking at the design of the butt.
It could have been a training aid. It could also have been something that CTs cut down for easier concealment. Insurgents in other parts of the world did the same with Enfields.