Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Malaysia
| Publisher | Child Soldiers International |
| Publication Date | 2001 |
| Cite as | Child Soldiers International, Child Soldiers Global Report 2001 - Malaysia, 2001, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/498805e418.html [accessed 4 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Mainly covers the period June 1998 to April 2001 as well as including some earlier information.
- Population:
– total: 21,830,000
– under-18s: 8,864,000 - Government armed forces:
– active: 96,000
– paramilitary: 20,100 - Compulsory recruitment age: no conscription
- Voluntary recruitment age: 18; certain cadets admitted at 17.5
- Voting age (government elections): 21
- Child soldiers: none indicated
- CRC-OP-CAC: not signed
- Other treaties ratified: CRC; GC; ILO 138; ILO 182
- There are no indications of under-18s in government armed forces, although some cadets are admitted to training from 17 years and 6 months.
GOVERNMENT
National Recruitment Legislation and Practice
There is no specific provision in the 1963 Constitution regarding military service, although Article 6 deals with forced labour, declaring that "all forms of forced labour are prohibited, but Parliament may by law provide for compulsory service for national purposes."1177 However, there is no legislation in force establishing compulsory military service since the repeal of the 1952 National Service Act. There are no plans to introduce compulsory military service although the Malaysian armed forces reportedly face shortages, notably among officers.1178
In addition to official armed forces there are many paramilitary forces, including the RELA (People's Volunteer Corps). Run by the Ministry of Interior, the RELA is intended as a third line of defence (the first two being the armed forces and different police forces) in wartime or in times of emergency. Recruitment into these forces is believed to be voluntary.1179
Military Training and Military Schools
The age requirement for entry into the Malaysian armed forces is generally 18 except for certain types of cadets (ATMA). The Malaysian Armed Forces Academy or Akademi Tentera Malaysia (ATMA) was created in 1995 to provide students with both military training and academic education. Non-servicemen must be at least 17 years 6 months but under 20 on the day of enlistment, and servicemen must be under 23 years. After their studies at the academy, cadets are asked to sign an agreement to serve in the Armed Forces of Malaysia (ATM) within a specified period. It seems from the information available on the web site of the Academy that cadets are members of the armed forces. There are two other colleges and dozens of schools for training for the army and the air force. No details of entry requirements to the schools were obtained.1180 Malaysian troops are engaged in UN peacekeeping forces in East Timor (UNTAET), Iraq/Kuwait (UNIKOM), Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) and Western Sahara (MINURSO).1181
1177 Blaustein and Flanz op. cit.
1178 Horeman and Stolwijk op. cit.
1179 Ibid.
1180 See http://maf.mod.gov.my/.
1181 See http://un.org/Depts/dpko.
