PSSTLDM - HISTORY

The RMNR has its own history. The formation of the Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSNVR) in Singapore by the British Government on April 27,1934, was the start off point for both the RMNR and also the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN). The unit was set-up to assist in defending and protecting the territorial waters of the Malay Peninsular in view of the political turbulence at that time. When World War II broke out in 1939, the British government had to strengthen its Naval Force in this region to protect the security of Singapore and Federation of Malaya. The members of SSNVR were then ordered to serve full-time. With members consisting of ex-SSNVR and new recruits, of which, all were Malay youths, the "Malay Section of The Royal Navy" was formed. It was also known as the Royal Malay Navy, or Malay Navy. The unit took off with a strength of 400 men who had undergone training at the training camp, HMMS PELANDOK, a British Naval Base in Singapore.

This unit soon expanded the following year and by 1941, it had 1 450 personnel. During World War II, they served under the British flagship in Indian Ocean and the Pacific. When World War II ended, only 650 men reported back for duty. Many of them died and some were missing in action during the war. In l947, the British government disbanded this unit due to the economic turmoil and also due to the peaceful era.

Not long after the section was disbanded, the British government realised that the defence of the Malayan territorial waters was crucial and in addition to that with a state of emergency declared in the Federation of Malaya, the British government was pushed to reinstate the formation of a naval unit consisting of local citizens. This unit was formed in l949 and given the name "Malayan Naval Forces". A number of personnels who joined this new unit were the ex-servicemen from the Malay Section of the Royal Navy that was dissolved. In l953 HRH Queen Elizabeth II awarded the Royal status to the Navy and from then on, it was known as the "Royal Malayan Navy (RMN)" or "Tentera Laut Diraja Malaya (TLDM)" (in Malay).

When the Federation of Malaya achieved independence on August 31, 1957, the British government handed over the Royal Malayan Navy to Malayan Government. The official handing over ceremony was held on July 1, l958 and since then, all RMN Ships hoist their own colours. With the Formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, the Royal Malayan Navy assumed its new title the "Royal Malaysian Navy".