Feature—Defence Cooperation Program-Malaysia
Exercise Suman Warrior participants at the capability display
The defence relationship with Malaysia continues to be one of our most active in the region, with a wide range of activities conducted under the auspices of the Malaysia–Australia Joint Defence Program, emphasising mutual benefit and reciprocity. Among the many activities conducted were the maritime exercise Mastex, held in August 2005, the land exercise Southern Tiger in October 2005, and a number of exercises conducted under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements.
Australia's defence relationship with Malaysia is among our strongest in the region. Much effort goes into maintaining this strength because our defence relationship is also an important element of the wider bilateral relationship, and it supports Australia's strategic and national interests. Our defence forces have many shared interests and priorities, including developing our respective abilities to deal with terrorist threats and to respond to natural disasters, improving regional maritime security, and promoting a peaceful and prosperous region. Our work together in Timor-Leste is a clear example of the importance of such close regional relationships.
Our relationship is underpinned by the ADF's presence at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth air force base, which continues to prove its strategic value to Australia and facilitates cooperation between the two countries. RAAF units comprise 324 Combat Support Squadron and 92 Wing Detachment Alpha, which support visits by various RAAF aircraft. The Army maintains a Land Command Liaison Section, which provides logistic and administrative support for various ADF exercises and activities in the region. The strategic importance of the ADF's presence at RMAF Butterworth was most recently illustrated during Australia's response to the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, when RMAF Butterworth operated as a forward logistics hub for ADF operations in Aceh.
The regular contact between senior officers has continued, with numerous counterpart calls and strategic dialogue occurring throughout the reporting period. The biennial Defence Policy Talks, chaired by the respective Secretaries of Defence, was held in March 2006 in Canberra. Defence also participated in the inaugural Regional Security Dialogue with Malaysia, which was led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and is expected to become an annual event.
Members of the Malaysian contingent study their map and discuss the best way to move their people during the Command Post Exercise.
Major Eric Madderman, 9 Force Support Battalion, briefs a syndicate on the Map Exercise.
Both countries continue to see educational exchanges as an important way of understanding each other's strategic concerns, developing closer personal ties and maintaining regular contact to build confidence for cooperation in other areas. The level of mutually beneficial professional military education opportunities and exchange postings has been broadened into new areas such as logistics and intelligence support.
An illustration of the strong historical basis of the defence relationship was the decision by the Malaysian Government to issue a commemorative medal (Pingat Jasa Malaysia) to Australian servicemen and women who served in prescribed areas of Malaysia during the period from 31 August 1957 (Malaysian Independence) to 12 August 1966 during the Malayan Emergency and the Indonesian Confrontation. Over 12,000 Australian servicemen and women have been identified as eligible, of whom approximately 4,000 have been issued with their award by Malaysia so far. The first medal was awarded in January 2006 to the Governor General, His Excellency Major General Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC (Ret'd) by the Malaysian Chief of the Defence Force.