MEDIA RELEASE
31
August 2018
COMMEMORATING THE SERVICE
OF MALAYA AND BORNEO VETERANS
KNOWN as Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day, today
recognises Australian military personnel who
served in two historical campaigns - the Malayan
Emergency (1948–1960), and the Indonesian
Confrontation, or Konfrontasi,
(1962–1966).
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Darren Chester
today encouraged Australians to reflect on the
service and sacrifice of those who served during
these post-Second World War conflicts in Malaya
and on Borneo.
“The Malayan Emergency was declared on 18 June
1948, following the Malayan Communist Party
launching an insurgency against British colonial
rule,” Mr Chester said.
“Australia’s military became involved in 1950
and served in the Emergency until its official
end in 1960, however, some units remained in
Malaya until 1963.
“I
encourage all Australians to pause and reflect
on our 13 years in Malaya, and to recognise how
our personnel from the Royal Australian Navy,
Australian Army and Royal Australian Air Force
played a key role in bringing the long-running
insurgency to an end.”
The Indonesian Confrontation began in 1962 when
Indonesian forces launched attacks on the newly
federated state of Malaysia. Australian forces
became involved two years later.
“The British led response to the Confrontation
included the deployment of various elements of
the three Australian armed services,” Mr Chester
said.
“Australian and other Commonwealth troops proved
themselves during the Confrontation as
professionally adaptable to the challenges of
conducting successful small scale operations in
the thickly forested terrain of Borneo,
experiences that would prove useful in the
Vietnam War.”
“Today we should reflect on the Australian
service personnel who served in the Malayan
Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation, and pay
tribute to those who made the ultimate
sacrifice.”
ENDS
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Whil Prendergast: 02 6277 7820
DVA Media: 02 6289 6466
Office of the Hon. Darren Chester MP,
Canberra.
Veterans and
Veterans Families Counselling Service (VVCS) can
be reached 24 hours a day across Australia for
support and free and confidential counselling.
Phone 1800 011 046 (international:
+61 8 8241 4546). VVCS is a
service founded by Vietnam veterans.