LETTER | Acknowledging Malaysian heroism at the Battle of Mogadishu

LETTER | I am writing in response to your interview with Adrian Teh on Aug 17, 2023, regarding his film ‘Malbatt: Misi Bakara’ which highlighted the valiant actions of the Malaysian Battalion in rescuing elite American Rangers during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

However, I was surprised to learn that the United States’ official recognition of the Malaysian forces’ contribution to this rescue mission only occurred as recently as 2013.

Unofficially, the US military forces involved in the battle had consistently acknowledged and expressed their gratitude for the brave actions of the Malaysian rescue forces.

In late 1997, journalist Mark Bowden published a series of 29 articles in The Philadelphia Inquirer online regarding the American forces in the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

These articles and the Q&A session were later compiled and published in a 1999 book titled ‘Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War’.

Ridley Scott’s 2001 war film ‘Back Hawk Down’ was based on Bowden’s book.

In 1997, after reading Bowden’s articles, I corresponded with him in the Q&A session. This was regarding his account of American officers’ request for Malaysian infantry to vacate their Condor Armoured Personnel Carriers in favour of American forces.

The implication was that they did not believe that Malaysian forces were as capable as American forces. A compromise was only reached when the Malaysians were allowed to retain a driver and gunner in each APC.

As a lieutenant in the Malaysian Armed Forces in 1997, I complained to Bowden about this slight against the Malaysian forces.

I bluntly said that the Malaysian forces were as capable as the American forces and would have been more than capable of executing the rescue mission under American command if required.

Bowden replied that in his interviews and interactions with the American forces present at the battle, the soldiers consistently held a deep sense of gratitude for the courageous actions of the Malaysian rescue forces.

Especially, as one of them said, that the Malaysian forces did not even have a dog in the fight (ie, that the Malaysian forces didn’t even have any personal interest or stake in the fight).

It is evident that the valour of the Malaysian Battalion during the Battle of Mogadishu earned them the respect and admiration of their American counterparts.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.