ANALYSIS OF THE POLICE SPECIAL BRANCHSTRENGTH AND WEAKNESSESDURING THE MALAYANEMERGENCY 1948-1960

Abstract

The Royal Malaysia Police Special Branch (SB) has been successfully encountered the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) insurrection for over 40 years, since the beginning of the First Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 and Second Malaysia Emergency 1968- 1989. It makes Malaysia one of the countries that successfully eliminated the communist insurgency threats in the world during the Cold War period. This study is using qualitative method based on archival data. The findings show that the SB has evolved since its formation in 1948, as they had developed significant tactics and strategies particularly the counter-intelligence operations in order of being able to penetrate the CPM communist underground movement and supply lines. Throughout the years back fighting the CPM, there are numerous tactics and strategies of counterinsurgency being developed and implemented during the period of 1948-1960. Nevertheless, the research that focusing on the strength and weaknesses of the SB was limited due to the barriers of classified information during the research process. Hence, this article will closely analysed the strength and weaknesses of the Police SB in implementing the tactics and strategies in defeating the CPM organization during the Malayan Emergency 1948-1960 respectively.  

Received:​​ ​4 October 20​18

Reviewed: ​​​​​18 January 20​19

Accepted: ​10 ​May 20​20​