THE ROLES OF POLICE SPECIAL BRANCH IN ELIMINATING THE COMMUNIST INSURGENCY 1948-1960: AN ANALYSIS

Abstract

Malaysia was one of the countries that have faced with security threat of Communist Insurgency inflicted by the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) since 1948 to 1960. As after the end of World War Two, most of the countries in the region of South East Asia was infested with communist guerilla insurgencies. Meanwhile the CPM launched their armed revolt at the beginning of 16 Jun 1948, in the name of war on liberation and anti-imperialist struggles towards against the British Government Administration in Malaya.  The success of the Malayan Security Forces with the guidance of British Military Forces (BMF) during the Malayan Emergency 1948-1960, was based on careful implementation of the Intelligence Services executed by the Malayan Police Special Branch (SB) Division, known for their high reputation and efficiency in counter-intelligence details in defeating the CPM armed insurrection. This study will focus, dissect and extract the roles and functions of the Police SB, primarily on its intelligence strategies and tactics in defeating the CPM movement, and the outcomes of the efficiency of the SB that led to the defeat of the CPM during the Emergency period.