Historically India-Malaysia defence relations date back to the colonial days when the troops of Madras Native Infantry were called upon to serve in Singapore, Malacca and Penang in the beginning of Nineteenth century. During the Second World War, units of British Indian Army fought the Japanese for the defence of Malaya and Singapore. Before Independence, some officers from Federated Malay States were trained in the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Dehradun. One of them, Tun Hussein Onn, subsequently joined politics and rose to become the third Prime Minister of the country (1976-1981) while another, Tun Ibrahim Ismail advanced up the Military Hierarchy, to become the Chief of Defence Forces (1971-77).

Malaysian Armed Forces officers and men were initially trained in India but as Malaysia established its own training establishments, training in India has become more selective, and now focuses only on specialized courses. Malaysian officers regularly attend the Defence and Services Staff College (DSSC) Course, the National Defence College (NDC) Course and several other specialized courses in India. Indian officers regularly attend the Malaysian Command and Staff Course as well as some specialized courses. Two grandsons of Sultan Iskandar Haj, Late King of Johore have passed out from Indian Military Academy in Dehradun. One of them, Prince Tunku Ismail Ibrahim, did his attachment with 61 Cavalry in 2007, also led the Regimental contingent at the Republic Day Paradeon 26 January 2007.

India-Malaysia defence relations have steadily grown over the years from military training to include supply of defence equipment and enhanced security dialogues. The MOU on Defence Cooperation between the two countries, signed in 1993 is the basic foundation stone of the present day defence relationship which caters for widening the scope of existing bilateral cooperation to include joint ventures, joint development projects, procurement, logistic and maintenance support and training. Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee (MIDCOM), meetings jointly chaired by the two Defence Secretaries, meets regularly to review the progress in defence cooperation on an annual basis. The last MIDCOM meeting was held in New Delhi in Mar 2010. Staff talks between the three services have been operationalized and are held regularly on annual basis. The last Army  to Army Staff talks was held at  New Delhi in Oct 2011 and Air to Air Staff Talks at  Kuala Lumpur in Oct 2011.

In the last few years itself, numerous high level visits have been exchanged between the two countries. Hon’bleRakshaMantri of India, Shri A K Antony, undertook a very successful visit of Malaysia in January 2008. His discussions with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Malaysia were held in an atmosphere of bonhomie and covered substantial issues on all facets of bilateral relationship. The two Defence Ministers, in their joint statement, agreed to further expand the scope of Defence Cooperation. The RakshaMantri’s visit was closely followed by the official visits of the Indian Chairman of Staff Committee, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff to Malaysia and from Malaysia, the Chief of Air Staff and Chief of Defence Forces to India. FOC - in -C, Eastern Naval Command visited MalaysiaIn May 2011.

In 2008, India accepted Malaysia’s request to train the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel on the operation and maintenance of the state of art Su-30 MKM aircraft. The initial training for the RMAF personnel was conducted in India by Hindustan Aeronautical Limited (HAL) and Indian Air Force. Subsequently, a composite team of flying and technical training instructors was deployed at Gong Kedah Base as part of Indian Air Force Training Team (IAFTT) for two and a half years to impart the training. The training successfully concluded in Sep 2010. The IAFTT team personals were felicitated in a special ceremony prior to their departure by General Dato Sri Rodzali bin Daud, Chief of Royal Malaysian Air Force.

Indian Navy has been a regular participant at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) in Malaysia and Indian Naval ships and Indian Coast Guard Ships frequently make port calls at Malaysian Ports. The Malaysian Navy in Jan 2010 participated for the first time in MILAN 10 held at Port Blair. The newly acquired Scorpene Class submarine KD TunRazak on her maiden voyage from Spain to Malaysia made port call at Kochi, India in Jun 2010. In June 2010 a group of three Indian Naval Ships from the Eastern Fleet made a Goodwill Visit to Port Klang, Malaysia. In Mar 2011 Indian Coast Guard Ship ICGS SANKALP made a Goodwill port call at Port Klang. In May 2011 INS RANVIJAY  made port call  at Sepanggar Naval Base,  in Aug 2011 INS AIRAVAT,  INS TIR, INS KRISHNA and ICGS VEERA made port  call at  Port Klang.  In Dec  2011 INS KORA and INS BARATANG  participated in LIMA -2011 at Langkawi.                                                 .

India also regularly sends its National Defence College Course, Higher Command Course, Higher Defence Management Course and Higher Air / Naval Command courses on regular visits to Malaysia. The Higher  Defence  Management Course  delegation visited Malaysia in Oct 2011 and the Higher Command  Course delegation visited  in Nov 2011.Indian Defence Production companies and the Indian Armed Forces personnel and assets have also  been regularly participating in the Malaysian Defence Exhibitions (DSA) and Langkawi International  Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). A high level delegation from India participated in DSA-10 held in April 2010 at Kuala Lumpur. Malaysia also regularly sends high level delegations to the DEF EXPOs and Aerospace Expositions shows in India. The Deputy Chief of RMAF led the Malaysian delegation to Aero India 11 held at Bangalore in Feb 2011. AOC-in-C, South Western Air Command led the Indian Delegation to LIMA - 11 at Langkawi in Dec 2011.

DIG SD Bhanot, TM, Commanding Officer,  Indian Coast Guard Ship, SANKALP presenting a memento
to Admiral Maritime DatukMohdAmdan bin Kurish, DG MMEA, Malaysia on 15 March 2011
during official Call On at MMEA Headquarters, Putrajaya. 

DIG SD Bhanot, TM, Commanding Officer, Indian Coast Guard Ship, SANKALP
and all Officers with Dr Pola Singh, Head of Maritime Institute of Malaysia
and Directors on 16 March 2011 during their visit to MIMA. 

Captain Dilbag Singh, Commanding Officer, Indian Naval Ship, RANVIJAY
accepting a memento from First Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Mohammad Rosland Omar
of Royal Malaysian Navy on 12 May 2011 at Sepanggar Naval Base. 

Vice Admiral Anup Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM, FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command
presenting a memento to RearAdmiral Anuwi bin Hazan, Commander Naval Area 2
during their meeting on 13 May 2011 at Sepanggar Naval Base.

Vice Admiral Anup Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM, FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command p
resenting a memento to First Admiral Dato’ Pahlawan Mohammad Rosland Omar
of Royal Malaysian Navy on 13 May 2011 at Sepanggar Naval Base.  

Vice Admiral Anup Singh, PVSM, AVSM, NM, FOC-in-C Eastern Naval Command
presenting a memento to Rear Admiral Datuk Mohammed Noordin bin Ali,
Deputy Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy on 16 May 2011 during official Call On.

Commander Nitin Kapoor, Commanding Officer INS AIRAAT presenting a memento
to Captain Hanafiah of Royal Malaysian Navy on 04 August 2011 during an official meeting.

Commander Nitin Kapoor, Commanding Officer, Indian Naval Ship, AIRAVAT and all Officers with Professor Nazery Khalid and Directors of Malaysia Institute of Maritime on 04 August 2011 during their visit to MIMA.

Commander Nitin Kapoor, Commanding Officer INS AIRAAT presenting a memento Mr Noel Choong, Head of Department, ICC IMB (Asia Regional Office) on 05 August 2011 during an official meeting.

Capt Ajay Sirohi, Commanding Officer Ist Training Squadron  presenting a memento  to First Admiral Dato’ PahlawanZaaim bin Hassan, Director General of National Hydrographic Centre of  Malaysia  on  26 August 2011 during  an official  meeting.

Capt Ajay Sirohi, Commanding Officer Ist Training Squadron  alongwith  Tan Sri Rear Admiral (Retd) Thana Balasingham, First Chief of Royal Malaysian Navy and Commanding Officer ICGS VEERA  and INS KRISHNA on board INS TIR on 26 August 2011 during Reception Onboard

Brigadier AP Bam, Head of Delegation of Higher Defence Management Course  in a meeting with Rear Admiral Dato’  Abdul  Hadi bin A Rashid,  Assistant Chief of Staff Defence Operations and Training at  MINDEF Headquarters  on 10 Oct 2011

Maj Gen JP Alex, Head  of Delegation,  Higher Command  Course from  Army War College paying a courtesy call to Gen Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Zulkifeli bin MohamadZin, Chief of Defence Force,
Malaysia on  31 Oct 2011

Archives - 2010