Ministry of Defence (Malaysia)


The Ministry of Defence, abbreviated MINDEF, KEMENTAH, is a ministry of the Government of Malaysia that is responsible for defence, national security, army, navy, hydrography, air force, armed forces, intelligence services, counterintelligence, military intelligence, national service, and veterans affairs.
The Minister of Defence administers his functions through the Ministry of Defence and a range of other government agencies.
Its headquarters is in Kuala Lumpur.

History

Ministry of Defence was established on 31 August 1957 and officially began operations in a building located in Brockman Road, Kuala Lumpur. This building also housed the office of the first Defence Minister, the late Tun Abdul Razak bin Datuk Hussein, who served from 31 August 1957 to 22 September 1970.
The first building of the Ministry of Defence was constructed by the Federal Government at a cost of RM122,000.00 and was officially opened by Tun Haji Abdul Razak bin Datuk Hussein on 18 March 1960. The building constructed in Jalan Padang Tembak also housed the Chiefs and Officers of the Malaysian Armed Forces of the three services.
As a result of growing awareness among leaders of the importance of the armed forces, a complex consisting of six blocks of four storeys high was built in front of the Office of the Member Services Division to cater for the growing membership. The RM 2 million building was officially opened by Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra on 6 April 1967.
After the withdrawal of the British troops, the Malaysian Government took drastic measures to improve the security of the country from any threat. This task is entrusted to the Ministry of Defence as well as the task of improving efficiency in the management of military needs from time to time.
To accommodate all the agencies under one roof, the government has decided to build a new building for the Ministry of Defence. As a symbolic, the foundation stone was laid by the then Deputy Defence Minister, Dato' Abu Bakar bin Datu Abang Abang Haji Mustapha on 10 March 1982. The new building is located at Jalan Padang Tembak, Kuala Lumpur and was built with a budget of RM144 million and was completed in mid 1985. This 20 storey high building is known as "WISMA PERTAHANAN" and provides office space and meeting rooms. The area around "WISMA PERTAHANAN" known as the Defence Complex also provides facilities such as multi-storey car park building, auditorium, prayer room, Field of Defence, guard stations, towers, computer room, 'helipad', cafeteria and others.
The Ministry of Defence is led by the Minister of Defence and assisted by a Deputy Minister. The organization of the Ministry of Defence consists of two main services. First, is the Public Service which is headed by the Secretary General and the Malaysian Armed Forces is headed by Chief of the Armed Forces.
Source :

Organisation

  1. Malaysian Armed Forces Headquarters, or Markas Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.
  2. # Malaysian Army, or Tentera Darat Malaysia.
  3. # Royal Malaysian Navy, or Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia.
  4. # Royal Malaysian Air Force, or Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia.
  5. # Joint Forces Command, Malaysia, or Markas Angkatan Bersama.
  6. # Defence Staff Intelligence Division, or Bahagian Staf Perisikan Pertahanan.
  7. National Service Training Department, or Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara.
  8. Malaysian Armed Forces Department of Veterans Affairs, or Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.
  9. Judge Advocate General Department, or Jabatan Ketua Hakim Peguam.
  10. Office of the Ministry of Defence Sabah, or Pejabat Kementerian Pertahanan Sabah.
  11. Office of the Ministry of Defence Sarawak, or Pejabat Kementerian Pertahanan Sarawak.

    Federal agencies

  12. Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security, or Institut Pertahanan dan Keselamatan Malaysia.
  13. Science and Technology Research Institute For Defence, or Institut Penyelidikan Sains dan Teknologi Pertahanan.
  14. Malaysian Armed Forces Cataloguing Authority, or Penguasa Katalog Angkatan Tentera Malaysia.
  15. Defence Reserve Depot, or Depot Simpanan Pertahanan.
  16. Ex-Serviceman Affairs Corporation, or Perbadanan Hal Ehwal Bekas Angkatan Tentera.
  17. Armed Forces Fund Board, Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera.

    Key legislation

The Ministry of Defence is responsible for administration of several key Acts: