The Communist Defeat in Malaya

The Malayan Communists were defeated finally in 1960, their army entrapped due to the Royal Navy ships patrolling the coast and sailing the rivers. A curfew and stricter emergency measures prevented sympathisers in the Chinese community delivering supplies to the MRLA. The RAF sprayed poison into the jungle where communists attempted to grow their own food. This forced the communists into taking more risks to obtain food, and thus increased their casualties. Chinese squatters were moved out of jungle fringes into new villages, which gave them ample excuse for not aiding the MRLA. By 1953 the MRLA had alienated nearly all sections of the population, and was finally forced to turn to the aborigines for help and sustenance. It was later estimated that half the 50 000 strong aborigine population was helping the MRLA by supplying food; passing on information about security patrols; and hiding its personnel. A number of forts were set up in aborigine territory, supplied by RAF and Royal Navy helicopters.

The RAF also deployed voice aircraft, and dropped pamphlets and safe conduct passes into the jungle. Both activities resulted in frequent desertions from the ranks of the MRLA.

Throughout the war, the MRLA steadily lost jungle fights against the army regulars. As well, the ever-present jungle diseases took a heavy toll. The security forces also deployed hunter-killer platoons which remained out in the jungle and kept the MRLA continuously on the defensive.

These measures were so effective that the MRLA was pushed deeper into the jungle. By September  1953 the government (General Templar) was able to declare the first White Area, in which all Emergency restrictions were lifted.

By the end of 1955 the MRLA was reduced to 3000 fighting personnel. Over 14 000 square miles of Malaya were declared White. In the same year the RAF dropped an average of 15 million leaflets per month; over 170 crop-spraying missions were flown; and over 87 hours were spent on voice flight. In addition, the RAF flew some 750 bomber sorties and undertook 950 ground attacks. Seventy per cent of surrendered enemy personnel had been influenced by the voice flights.

The RAF first used 500lb bombs, but later found that 20lb pressure-fused, fragmentation bombs and 27lb cluster bombs were more effective. 60lb aerial rockets were used, as were Griffin (napalm)  bombs, though the latter were found to have extremely limited effect in damp jungle.

By the time Malaya gained independence, the Security forces had shattered the MRLA, reducing it to less than 1500 fighting personnel from an original 4000. Malaya's achievement of independence had removed the vital MCP anti-colonial support base. This caused the communists deep anxiety. In 1956, Commonwealth countries sent contingents of their own troops to join in the fight against the MRLA, removing another support base from the MCP: that of anti-British imperialism. Malayan personnel took command of the Security forces in July 1956, and authority was granted to establish the Malayan armed forces.

The guerilla insurrection in Malaya lasted for twelve years. In all, a probable 12 000 insurgents were involved. Of these, 10 699 were accounted for by the Security forces, including 6710  killed, 1287 captured and 2702 surrendered. About 500 remained, meaning that approximately 1000 must have died, deserted, or been liquidated. The majority of those killed fell to British and Gurkha units. The Security  forces numbered, at their peak, about 350 000. Some 250 000 were Home Guards; there had been about 40 000 regular troops (British, Commonwealth, Malayan and Gurkha, backed by 24 000 Federation Police); and some 37 000 Special Constables. The RAF and Commonwealth air detachments and personnel carried out over 25 000 strike sorties; dropped 33 000 tons of bombs; and fired nearly 100 000  rockets.

The Malayan Police casualties totalled 2947. Of these, 1346 were killed. The military forces suffered  1478 casualties, of whom 519 were killed. There were 4668 civilian casualties, of whom 2473 were  killed and 810 listed as missing. Throughout the war there was a total of 21 023 incidents.

The total monetary cost amounted to $1470 million (Malayan), but the economic damage to the country could not be measured. The Malayan Emergency ended on 31 July 1960.