20,000 Malaysian Troops Stand By

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30635, 29 December 1964, Page 9

20,000 Malaysian Troops Stand By

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON, December 28.

Twenty thousand Malaysian troops, supported by naval and air forces, are on standby in Borneo and along the west coast of Malaya, the “Guardian” said today.

They have been alerted to deal with any attempt by President Sukarno to make good his boast to crush Malaysia by New Year’s Day, the newspaper’s special correspondent in Malacca reported.

The correspondent said three brigades of Indonesian forces had been identified along the Borneo border, and strong concentrations in Sumatra across the narrow straits of Malacca.

Indonesia had been warned that if she engaged in “massive” attacks against Malaysia she risked retaliatory air and naval bombardments. The correspondent said it appeared the Central Malaysian Government, together with the military command, might have decided to take the near-war on to enemy territory. These bombardments were most likely to begin in Borneo where the military command had been anxious to conduct a “line-straightening” operation.

This would give allied forces better tactical operating conditions —the Indonesian forces are so based as to give them the initiative. It would also remove the Indonesian threat in Borneo so that some of the 10,000 men now there could be withdrawn to contribute to the greater problem of Malaysia’s defence. “The Times” Kuala Lumpur correspondent said there was growing demand for the adoption of offensive action. So far Malaysian forces had fought only on the defensive and they had been ordered not to pursue hit-and-run raiders into Indonesian Borneo, the correspondent said. Fears Of Open War

Some Sabah and Sarawak leaders had urged the Malaysian Central Government some time ago to enlarge the scope of military and air operations. But fears of an open war had inhibited stronger action. The Malaysian Government had reiterated its confidence that any Indonesian attacks could be contained with assistance from Australian, New Zealand and British forces. It had made it clear that it would consider retaliatory measures if there were new massive attacks, the correspondent added. More Troops Needed

The “Daily Mail,” in a report from Singapore, said more British troops would soon be needed to defend Malaysia if the Indonesian invasions continued at their present rate. British forces chiefs had held emergency meetings over Christmas to discuss the troop situation. They were expected to send their demands to the British Government almost immediately. Britain, which had 10,000 soldiers plus naval and air force staff in Malaysia, could bring troops either from Hong Kong or Europe, the newspaper said. A recruiting drive for the Malaysian armed forces be-

gan in Singapore today, Reuter said. About 300 men turned up to volunteer.

In Kuala Lumpur, a Malaysian leader said today Indonesian guerrillas captured should be formed into labour gangs.

The Singapore State Minister for Culture, Mr S. Rajaratham, told reporters: “We must show the captured Indonesians that life for them here is not going to be more comfortable than in Indonesia.” An estimated 330 Indonesian raiders have taken part in seven operations against southern Malaya and Singapore since last August. Fifty-five have been killed and 234 captured.