7TH BATTALION, THE ROYAL MALAY REGIMENT (1953-1968) - 2059 PW11 MAAMOR BIN SUDIN

A historical account of the 7th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment where my late father served from 1946 - the late 1960s.

The Royal Malay Regiment began in 1 March 1933 with a small group called the 1st Experimental Company with 25 young Men chosen from1,000 people who wanted to join. This company started in Port Dickson led by Lt.Col. G.Mc Bruce and Captain K.G. Exham, and the Regiment Sergeant Major (RSM) was A.E.McCarthy and E.Oldfield served as its Quartermaster Sergeant.

When my late father joined in 1946, the Malay Regiment was in state of "Reconstruction". After the Japanese occupation, the British began expanding the regiment from its original pre-war strength of two battalions. 

The 7th battalion was formed on 1 October 1953 in Port Dickson. The first Commanding Officer was Lt. Col. A. Gordon, M.C. However, Lt. Col. Khalid Mohammad Yasin was the first Malay to command this battalion.

From its establishment until the late 1960s, 7 RAMDs were based in the following locations:

1.  1953 - 1954 : Port Dickson, N.S
2. 1954 - 1955 - Pahang
3. 1955 - 1956 - Kluang,Johor
4. 1957 - 1961 - Taiping Perak (I was born here 2nd July 1961)
5. 1962 - 1963 : Bukavu, Congo, Africa
6. 1963-1964 : Kem Sg. Besi, K.Lumpur
7. 1965-66 : Kem Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Bharu, Kelantan
8. 1966 -      : Tawau, Sabah

The 7th Battalion Royal Malay Regiment (7 RAMD), today is known as Mechanized Battalion.

The Regiment was granted the "Royal" title by the First Yang DiPertuan Agong on April 9, 1958. 

MALAYAN EMERGENCY (1948-1960)

7 RAMD was involved in several operations during the Emergency in Malaya from 1948-1960):

• March 1954: involved in the operations at Sepang, Selangor
• 30 May 1955 : A platoon under Lt. Morris succeeded in killing a communist terrorist in Mengkarak.
• 6 October 1955 : Company B's subunit under Corporal 2876 Mohd Zain Ibrahim successfully killed a communist terrorist named Badur in Kajang, Selangor. He was awarded the Military Medal.
• 5 November 1955: Pte. 9469 Mohd.Sabu Mohd. Jusoh was killed in Action (KIA) at Sg.Pening Estate, Kajang, Selangor.
• 1 April 1956: Platoon 9 fought with communist terrorists in a swampy area where Pte. 7866 Jaafar was wounded.
• Throughout the Emergency, 7 RAMD successfully killed 4 communist terrorists, captured 2 and surrendered 2 more through operations conducted. The team lost one officer, 2 other ranks in 3 battles.

THE CONGO MISSION : GLOBAL RECOGNITION (1960-1963)

Shortly after gained independence in 1957, the 7th Battalion was selected to served under the United Nations in Congo (ONUC). They were sent to Africa to stabilise the country following the "Congo Crisis". My father and his comrades were some of the first Malaysian Soldiers to serve internationally. 

7 RAMD based in Taiping, Perak left the country on board the USNS Gen.R.M Blatchford on 17 February 1962 and arrived at Port Dar-es-Salam on 27 February 1962. The team was stationed in Bukavu, Congo.

The battalion was assisted by Malaysian military personnel from Squadron A, 1st Reconnaissance Regiment under the command of Major Harchand Singh.

During the service of 7 RAMD in Congo, the Battalion lost one member, Private 13560 Sionah bin Jantan, who died from drowning in the Bukavu River on 6 June 1962. The Battalion returned to the country on 8 January 1963.

17 February 1962 : passage to Congo

2059 WO2 Maamor Bin Sudin at Bukavu, Congo, Africa

The UN Medals received by my late father.

THE MALAYSIA-INDONESIA CONFRONTATION (1963-1966)

The Battalion were deployed to Tawau, Sabah during Confrontation to prevent incursions by Indonesian forces. 

The 7th Battalion was known for its expertise in long-range reconnaissance and deep-jungle patrols, skills honed during the decade-long Emergency.

Souvenir from a Gurkha soldier to my father when in Tawau, Sabah.

Khukri, a traditional Nepalese blade used by the Gurkha Army, was given as a souvenir to my late father during his tour at Tawau, Sabah. 

Photo collection from my father, provides a fascinating glimpse into the social life of British Officers and their families during the final years of colonial rule in Malaya. The image capture a "Grand Chritmas celebration" . 

Social gatherings like the one pictured served as a necessary psychological reprieve from the pressures of jungle warfare and the political uncertainty of the time.

British officers serving in the RMR were actively engaged in counter-insurgency operations against the Malayan Races Liberation Army (MRLA).

That's a brief summary of my late father's involvement with the 7th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment. Actually, there are many more stories he told me during his earlier life, memories of serving with the 7th RAMD.

Hj Zulheimy Maamor

Lembah Keramat, K.L

26 April 2026: 12.14 a.m