Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja
Encyclopedia
Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja (Royal Electric & Mechanical Engineer Corps) is a corps of the Malaysian Army
that is responsible for the maintenance of all vehicles, mechanical and electrical equipment of the Malaysian Army, with the exception of heavy equipments of the Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
(Royal Army Engineers Regiment) and signals equipment of the Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja
(Royal Signals Regiment).
The lineage of Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja can be traced to the formation of the British Army
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
.
, various units of the British Army were responsible for the maintenance and repairs of vehicles and equipment of the British Army. The Ordnance Corps
took care of weaponry and Logistics, the Royal Engineers
maintained engineering plants and machinery, Royal Corps of Signals
was responsible for repairs of signals and communications equipment and the Royal Army Service Corps
maintained other motor transport of the British Army.
Before 1939, there were 2 Army Maintenance Workshops in Malaya
, one was located at Belakang Mati
and the other was located at Changi
. Both maintained army equipments and instruments, such as compass
es, camera
s and such other equipments. The workshops were moved to Alexandra Road, Singapore
and the activity of the workshop was enhanced to include repairs on heavier equipment.
In September 1939, another workshop was established in Pulau Pinang
, assisted by Indian troopers of the Mobile Workshop Indian Army
. A bigger workshop was also established in Kuala Lumpur
.
By the time of the return of British
Forces to Malaya after World War II, the British Army had already formed the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (formed in October, 1942). When India
gained Independence
in 1947, Indian Army units were withdrawn from Malaya and returned to India. With the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency
in 1948, British Forces were stretched. Local Malays were recruited into the British Army to beef up their strength.
The Indian Army’s return gave the chance for Malayans to be recruited and trained in REME trades at the REME training Centre at Ayer Rajah, Singapore. They were then assigned as Malayan Other Ranks at the Malayan Workshop in Ipoh
, Kluang
and Seremban
.
In April, 1957, the Federation
Army Service Corps was formed with the pooling of resources from Medical, Supply, Transport, Logistics
and EME units in Malaya. The EME branch of the Federation Army Service Corps undertook maintenance and mechanical and electrical repairs of equipment used by the Federation
Army. The EME branch was under the command of the REME Staff Officer I, Lt Kol TFM Moore who was on secondment to the Federation
Army. The Malayan Other Ranks were transferred to the Federation Army Service Corps. 6 workshops and 2 Light Aid Detachments was formed.
On 27 May, 1958, following the formation of the Malayan Navy
and Malayan Air Force, the Services, Ordnance and EME branches of the Federation Army Service Corps were again reorganised and had its name changed to the Armed Forces Maintenance Corps (AFMC).
In 1965, the Armed Forces Maintenance Corps (AFMC) was disbanded and broken up into three separate services. The EME branch was used as the basis for the formation of the Malaysian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, with Lt. Col. J.R. Dickinson as the first Director. Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera (Electrical And Mechanical Engineers Corps) was officially formed on 9 April 1965. In 1968, Lt. Kol Idrus bin Abdul Rahman was made the first Malaysian director of Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera (previous Directors had been British Army officers on secondment to the Malaysian Army.
In 7 June 1997, the Corps was bestowed the “Royal” title and hence called Kor Jurutera Letrik Dan Jentera DiRaja (KJLJ).
Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja is presently organised into Base Workshops, while field units include Brigade Support Workshops, Regimental Workshops and Light Aid Detachments.
Presently, Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja has
Malaysian Army
The Malaysian Army is the land component of the Malaysian Armed Forces. Steeped in British Army traditions, the Malaysian Army does not carry the title ‘royal’ as do the Royal Malaysian Air Force and the Royal Malaysian Navy...
that is responsible for the maintenance of all vehicles, mechanical and electrical equipment of the Malaysian Army, with the exception of heavy equipments of the Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja
Rejimen Askar Jurutera DiRaja is a group combat support military units of the Malaysian Army that provides combat engineering and other engineering support to the Malaysian Army.- History :...
(Royal Army Engineers Regiment) and signals equipment of the Rejimen Semboyan DiRaja
Rejimen Semboyan Diraja
The Rejimen Semboyan Diraja is a combat support regiment of the Malaysian Army. It has the primary responsibility of establishing and maintaining secure military communications channels for the command and tactical elements of the Malaysian Army, and is also responsible for all electronic support...
(Royal Signals Regiment).
The lineage of Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja can be traced to the formation of the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
The Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers is a corps of the British Army that has responsibility for the maintenance, servicing and inspection of almost every electrical and mechanical piece of equipment within the British Army from Challenger II main battle tanks and WAH64 Apache...
.
History
Before the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, various units of the British Army were responsible for the maintenance and repairs of vehicles and equipment of the British Army. The Ordnance Corps
Ordnance Corps
The United States Army Ordnance Corps is a Sustainment branch of the United States Army, headquartered at Fort Lee, Virginia.-Mission Statement:The U.S...
took care of weaponry and Logistics, the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
maintained engineering plants and machinery, Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
was responsible for repairs of signals and communications equipment and the Royal Army Service Corps
Royal Army Service Corps
The Royal Army Service Corps was a corps of the British Army. It was responsible for land, coastal and lake transport; air despatch; supply of food, water, fuel, and general domestic stores such as clothing, furniture and stationery ; administration of...
maintained other motor transport of the British Army.
Before 1939, there were 2 Army Maintenance Workshops in Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
, one was located at Belakang Mati
Sentosa
Sentosa, which translates to peace and tranquility in Malay , is a popular island resort in Singapore, visited by some five million people a year...
and the other was located at Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
. Both maintained army equipments and instruments, such as compass
Compass
A compass is a navigational instrument that shows directions in a frame of reference that is stationary relative to the surface of the earth. The frame of reference defines the four cardinal directions – north, south, east, and west. Intermediate directions are also defined...
es, camera
Camera
A camera is a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies. The term camera comes from the camera obscura , an early mechanism for projecting images...
s and such other equipments. The workshops were moved to Alexandra Road, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and the activity of the workshop was enhanced to include repairs on heavier equipment.
In September 1939, another workshop was established in Pulau Pinang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
, assisted by Indian troopers of the Mobile Workshop Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
. A bigger workshop was also established in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
.
By the time of the return of British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Forces to Malaya after World War II, the British Army had already formed the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (formed in October, 1942). When India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
gained Independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
in 1947, Indian Army units were withdrawn from Malaya and returned to India. With the outbreak of the Malayan Emergency
Malayan Emergency
The Malayan Emergency was a guerrilla war fought between Commonwealth armed forces and the Malayan National Liberation Army , the military arm of the Malayan Communist Party, from 1948 to 1960....
in 1948, British Forces were stretched. Local Malays were recruited into the British Army to beef up their strength.
The Indian Army’s return gave the chance for Malayans to be recruited and trained in REME trades at the REME training Centre at Ayer Rajah, Singapore. They were then assigned as Malayan Other Ranks at the Malayan Workshop in Ipoh
Ipoh
Ipoh is the capital city of Perak state, Malaysia. It is approximately 200 km north of Kuala Lumpur on the North-South Expressway....
, Kluang
Kluang
Kluang is a town and district located roughly in the middle of the state of Johor in Malaysia. Kluang lies about 110 km north of Johor Bahru, east-southeast of Batu Pahat, west of Mersing and south of Segamat...
and Seremban
Seremban
Seremban is the capital of the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilan, located within the district of Seremban, one of the seven districts of Negeri Sembilan. The town's administration is run by the Seremban Municipal Council or Majlis Perbandaran Seremban...
.
In April, 1957, the Federation
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
Army Service Corps was formed with the pooling of resources from Medical, Supply, Transport, Logistics
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
and EME units in Malaya. The EME branch of the Federation Army Service Corps undertook maintenance and mechanical and electrical repairs of equipment used by the Federation
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
Army. The EME branch was under the command of the REME Staff Officer I, Lt Kol TFM Moore who was on secondment to the Federation
Federation of Malaya
The Federation of Malaya is the name given to a federation of 11 states that existed from 31 January 1948 until 16 September 1963. The Federation became independent on 31 August 1957...
Army. The Malayan Other Ranks were transferred to the Federation Army Service Corps. 6 workshops and 2 Light Aid Detachments was formed.
On 27 May, 1958, following the formation of the Malayan Navy
Royal Malaysian Navy
The Royal Malaysian Navy is the naval arm of Malaysian Armed Forces. All commissioned ships of the RMN have the prefix KD , which means Royal Ship.-Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve:...
and Malayan Air Force, the Services, Ordnance and EME branches of the Federation Army Service Corps were again reorganised and had its name changed to the Armed Forces Maintenance Corps (AFMC).
In 1965, the Armed Forces Maintenance Corps (AFMC) was disbanded and broken up into three separate services. The EME branch was used as the basis for the formation of the Malaysian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Corps, with Lt. Col. J.R. Dickinson as the first Director. Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera (Electrical And Mechanical Engineers Corps) was officially formed on 9 April 1965. In 1968, Lt. Kol Idrus bin Abdul Rahman was made the first Malaysian director of Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera (previous Directors had been British Army officers on secondment to the Malaysian Army.
In 7 June 1997, the Corps was bestowed the “Royal” title and hence called Kor Jurutera Letrik Dan Jentera DiRaja (KJLJ).
Organisation and Units
Jabatanarah JLJ (EME Directorate) at Army headquarters oversees and coordinates activities of Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera.Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja is presently organised into Base Workshops, while field units include Brigade Support Workshops, Regimental Workshops and Light Aid Detachments.
Presently, Kor Jurutera Letrik dan Jentera DiRaja has
- 2 x Woksyop Pangkalan (Base Workshops)
- 4 x Woksyop Divisyen (Divisional support Workshops)
- 8 x Woksyop Briged (Brigade support Workshops)
- 10 x Woksyop Rejimen (regimental support workshop)
- 208 x Detasmen Bantuan Kecil (Light Aid Detachments)
- Ijed[Institute of Engineering, Port Dickson]
- SPPTD[Armed Force Apperantice Trade School]