|
|
8 RANGER | |
| AIRBORNE |
 |
|
|
Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban which means "fight till death" |
|
|
HISTORY OF THE RANGER REGIMENT It all began in 1862 when the Sarawak Rangers were formed by Sir James Brooke as the Sarawak Peace keeping force. It was not until WWII (1941) and the Emergency (1948) that the Iban soldiers that made up the rangers were taken in by the British Goverment to help out in peninsular Malaya. This group of Iban trackers were highly praised by Sir Gerald Templer (1953) for their ability and professionalism in tracking. Sir Gerald Templer once wrote, "The Ibans are the world's best jungle trackers I have come across. They served the country admirably and I have much respect for them". On 15 September 1963, the Sarawak Rangers was disbanded and seconded into the Malaysian Armed Forces after the birth of Malaysia when Sarawak joined Malaysia. This unit was named 1 Rangers Malaysia with the majority of its members from the natives of Sarawak. At about the same time, 2 Rangers Malaysia was formed where its members were mainly from the natives of Sabah. |
|
|
MULTI-RACIAL UNIT Today the Ranger units comprises of multi-racial members. The natives of Sarawak and Sabah are the Ibans, Bidayuh, Kadazan, Bajau, Kayan, Kelabit, Kenyah, Bisayah, Lundayah, Murut and others. Together with the Malays, Chinese and Indians, the Ranger Regiment potrays a unique mix of ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds. |
|
|
IDEAL JUNGLE FIGHTERS When they joined the British Forces, the Rangers had already established themselves as great trackers. This skills, knowledge and expertise are put to great use in the war against the communist terrorist (CT) in the jungles of Malaya. The CT move in small units, carry out hit and run attacks in towns and then retreat back into the safety of the jungles. The Iban soldiers who grew up in the jungles of Sarawak, (who had learned the skills of tracking from their father for hunting animals from a very young age) were indispensible in this type of warfare. Their ability to track down enemies in the jungles, move fast, and survive for weeks in the jungle without having to come out for food supplies were unique, and they proved to be extremely successful. This is evident from the number of successful missions recorded and the numerous awards for bravery. |
|
|
GOING AIRBORNE With the diminishing threat of the Communist Party of Malaya, and forseeing the ending of guerilla warfare in jungles of Malaysia, the infantry units began assuming a different role; that was defending the sovereignty and borders of the country. Newer developments in military strategy called for units that were highly mobile and that could be rapidly deployed to any part of the country where needed. 8 Ranger was chosen as one of the units to join the Airborne Brigade (Rapid Deployment Force). When I joined the unit in 1989, it was still undergoing the training and conversion phase. A member of the Australian Army Technical Advisory Group was attached to the unit providing further assistance and technical advice. |
|
|
MY RANGER EXPERIENCE 1989/90 It was indeed a change for me, from the quiet life in Temenggor, (Batalion Infantri 303), to the active and highly spirited 8 Ranger unit in Melaka. My duties at the clinic was the same as my previous unit. There were however some extra duties from time to time; like going on 'training exercise' with 8 Ranger, or to stand in for some other doctors for the other units who were going on exercise. This had allowed me to travel to quite a number of places in Malaysia where the soldiers were involved in the exercise. On some exercise I had to walk a lot, in others I travelled in an Army jeep, truck or ambulance. My 'exercise' home. 
It also gave me the opportunity to fly in a C-130, which was quite an experience. Thankfully there were no serious accidents while I was on duty, only some sprained ankles from bad landing. It was not only their rifles that the paratroopers carry when they jumped off the plane. Some even had to jump with heavy machine-guns, mortar-launchers and anti-tank weapons. It was not an easy task. Heavy weapons they jumped with. 
The favourite areas for paratrooper training were the paddy fields in Melaka and Sabah (with the beautiful Mount Kinabalu as the back-drop) and the tobacco fields in Kelantan. It was like a carnival sometimes with the village folks coming out and gathering to watch the paratroopers raining down from the skies. Men of 8 Ranger.  Another experience that I will remember 8 Ranger was the 'esprit de corps' feeling inculcated in the unit. It was a feeling of brotherhood, where the members of the unit will go all out to help the others who needed it, whether in training, at war or in peace time. I believe that was what made the unit such a successful one and I was proud to be given the opportunity to be part of that team. |
|
- a pilot said that (boy is he wrong!). ONLY THE BRAVEST! 
 |
|
| HEROES OF 8 RANGER
KANANG ak LANGKAU from Simanggang (Sri Aman), Sarawak stands out as the greatest of the war heroes in the Malaysian Armed Forces history. He won two of the nation's highest award for bravery. He was awarded the Pingat Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB) for his efforts in tracking and destroying the enemy in Korbu Reserved Forest, Sg. Siput, Perak in 1979. A year later, Sergeant Kanang was awarded the Pingat Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP), the highest award for bravery for his effort in February 1980 for successfully engaging and destroying the enemy after tracking them for eleven days in the jungles of Tanah Hitam, Perak. He had since retired from service as Warrant Officer I. 
 |
|
| THANK YOU
This page is dedicated to all the officers and soldiers who served the 8th Battalion, Royal Ranger Regiment; past, present and future. Many had lost their lives while in the prime of their youth. Yours sacrifices will not be forgotten. 'Agi idup agi ngelaban'. 
In appreciation of The Australian Army, who had given technical assistance and advice during the early years of 8 Ranger Airborne. 
In appreciation of the US Army. Our boys made some jumps with the US Special Forces group (based in Okinawa) during their visit to Malaysia.  |
|
|
RELATED LINKS Colonel Holeman's Airborne Paratrooper Page Malaysian Armed Forces Medical & Dental Corps Malaysian Armed Forces Malaysian Special Operation Forces Land Forces of Britain, The Empire & Commonwealth BACK TO My Army Days ----> 303 Infantry Battalion ----> 8 Ranger Airborne MY MAIN PAGE | |
