Recognising Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day
Every year on 31 August, Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day recognises all those Australians who served on behalf of our nation in the Malayan Emergency and Indonesian Confrontation more than five decades ago. Both conflicts were fought on the Malay Peninsula and on Borneo.
The Malayan Emergency was declared on 16 June 1948 after three European estate managers were assassinated in Perak by insurgents of the Malayan Communist Party seeking an end to British rule. Australians from the Navy, Army and Air Force were deployed to Malaya from 1950 to help conduct counter-insurgency operations. Australian military personnel continued to serve until the end of the Malayan Emergency remaining in operations until 1963. This 13-year commitment was one of the longest for Australia during the course of the 20th Century. Sadly, 39 Australians lost their lives and 27 were wounded while serving in the Malayan Emergency.
Not long after the Malayan Emergency ended, Australians were again engaged in another conflict in the region when Indonesia declared its Confrontation in opposition to the newly federated state of Malaysia. The Indonesian Confrontation was an undeclared war fought between Indonesia and Malaysia. Australians from all three branches of the service were deployed to Indonesian Confrontation during 1964 to 1966, to assist in defending Malaysia. Tragically, 22 Australians lost their lives and eight were wounded during the Confrontation.
A treaty was eventually signed between Indonesia and Malaysia in Bangkok in August 1966. The treaty recognised that the North Borneo states of Sabah and Sarawak would continue to be part of the Malaysian Federation.
The service and sacrifice of all those who served in these conflicts will always be remembered.
To read more about Malaya and Borneo Veterans’ Day, visit the Anzac Portal.