Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation facts for kids

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Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation

Part of the formation of Malaysia and the Cold War in Asia

A British soldier is winched up by a Westland Wessex helicopter during an operation in Borneo, August 1964

Date

20 January 1963 – 11 August 1966
(3 years, 6 months, 3 weeks and 1 day)

Location

Malay Peninsula, Borneo

Result

Commonwealth victory

Indonesia accepts formation of Malaysia
Sukarno was replaced by Suharto following G30S coup attempt
Communist insurgency in Sarawak continues until 1989

Belligerents

The Commonwealth of Nations

Supported by:

United States

Canada

Indonesia

Aligned parties:

PKI

NKCP

PGRS
NKPA

PRB

TNKU

Supported by:

China

Philippines

Soviet Union

North Vietnam

Malayan Communist Party

Commanders and leaders

Tuanku Syed Putra
Ismail Nasiruddin
Tunku Abdul Rahman
Abdul Razak Hussein
Tunku Osman
Mustapha Harun
Pengiran Ahmad Raffae
Fuad Stephens
Peter Lo Sui Yin
Abang Openg
Stephen Kalong Ningkan
Yusof Ishak
Lee Kuan Yew
Omar Ali Saifuddien III
Harold Macmillan
Alec Douglas-Home
Harold Wilson
Rodney Moore
Walter Walker

Sukarno
Subandrio
Omar Dani
Ahmad Yani
Eddy Martadinata
A.H. Nasution
Suharto
D.N. Aidit
Wen Ming Chyuan
Lam Wah Kwai
Bong Kee Chok
Ang Cho Teng
A. M. Azahari
Yassin Affandi

Casualties and losses

Military Total:

114 killed
181 wounded

Civilians Total:

36 killed
53 wounded
4 captured

140 killed (including 44 ghurka)
52 wounded

23 killed
8 wounded
12 killed
16 wounded
9 killed
several wounded
Gurkhas 44 killed
83 wounded

57 killed
47 wounded

Total:

590 killed
222 wounded
771 captured

The Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, also called the Borneo confrontation, was an armed conflict that lasted from 1963 to 1966. It happened because Indonesia was against the creation of the new country of Malaysia. Malaysia was formed by joining the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, and the British colonies of North Borneo (now Sabah) and Sarawak on the island of Borneo.

This conflict was like an undeclared war. Most of the fighting took place in the jungle along the long border between Indonesia and East Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Soldiers from both sides went on long patrols. The fighting was usually small-scale, with groups of soldiers clashing. Indonesia tried to use the different ethnic groups in Sabah and Sarawak to cause trouble and stop Malaysia from forming.

The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand directly supported Malaysia. Indonesia received some support from the USSR and China, making this conflict part of the wider Cold War in Asia. After Indonesian President Sukarno lost power in 1966, the conflict ended peacefully.

Why the Conflict Started

Political Reasons

Before the conflict, Indonesia's President Sukarno wanted his country to be strong and independent. He had just successfully gained control of West New Guinea for Indonesia. This success might have made him feel confident about expanding Indonesia's influence in the region.

The British government was planning to leave its colonies in Southeast Asia. They suggested combining their colonies in North Borneo (Sabah), Sarawak, and Brunei with the independent Federation of Malaya and Singapore to form a new country called Malaysia.

At first, Indonesia was somewhat okay with this idea. However, the Communist Party of Indonesia (PKI) was strongly against it. President Sukarno later changed his mind and also opposed Malaysia. He believed Malaysia would be a "puppet state" controlled by Britain, which he saw as a threat to Indonesia's security.

The Brunei Revolt

In December 1962, a politician named Dr. AM Azahari led a rebellion in Brunei. His group, the North Kalimantan National Army (TNKU), wanted to unite all British Borneo territories into an independent state called North Kalimantan. They were against joining Malaysia.

The rebellion failed quickly. British forces from Singapore arrived and helped put it down within hours. After this, Indonesia's Foreign Minister, Subandrio, announced that Indonesia would start a policy of "Konfrontasi" (Confrontation) against Malaysia. This meant Indonesia would actively oppose Malaysia's formation.

People and the Land

In 1961, the island of Borneo was divided. The southern part was Kalimantan, belonging to Indonesia. In the north were Brunei, British North Borneo (Sabah), and Sarawak, which were British territories.

The British territories had about 1.5 million people. About half of them were Dayaks. Sarawak had many Chinese and Malay people. The border between Indonesian Kalimantan and the British territories was about 1,000 miles long. It mostly followed a ridgeline, with mountains up to 2,500 meters high.

There were very few roads in the border areas. This meant soldiers had to travel mostly on foot through dense jungle. Rivers were also important for transport. Both sides used light infantry and relied on air transport, especially helicopters, to move troops and supplies.

The weather in Borneo is hot and humid, with heavy rainfall and thick tropical rainforests. This made fighting and moving around very difficult.

Opposition in Sarawak

After World War II, Sarawak became a British colony. Some local groups, especially Chinese communities, had left-wing or communist ideas. These groups formed guerrilla movements like the North Kalimantan People's Army (PARAKU) and the Sarawak People's Guerrillas (PGRS).

These groups wanted to create an independent North Kalimantan state, uniting all British Borneo territories. They believed this would prevent them from being controlled by Malaya. The Sarawak Communist Organisation had many ethnic Chinese members but little support from Malays or other local groups.

After the Brunei Revolt, some of these groups fled to Indonesia. Indonesia then began training these volunteers to fight against Malaysia.

The Conflict Begins

First Attacks

President Sukarno's reasons for starting the Confrontation are still debated. Some say he wanted to expand Indonesia's power. Others believe he was pressured by the Communist Party in Indonesia. Sukarno saw Malaysia as a British "neo-colonial" project that would increase British control in the region.

In April 1963, the first recorded attack happened in Borneo. Indonesian forces attacked a police station in Tebedu, Sarawak. This attack is often seen as the start of the military conflict.

Malaysia was officially formed on September 16, 1963. Indonesia reacted strongly, expelling Malaysia's ambassador. In Jakarta, rioters burned the British embassy. In Malaysia, crowds attacked the Indonesian embassy.

Infiltrations Continue

Even while peace talks were attempted, Indonesia kept sending forces into Borneo. These groups were often well-trained and led. Malaysian Army units were sent to Borneo to defend the new country.

Indonesia tried to deny direct involvement, but it was clear their forces were crossing the border. Sukarno then offered a ceasefire, but talks failed as border violations continued.

Fighting Spreads to Peninsular Malaysia

On May 3, 1964, Sukarno announced the "People's Dual Command" (Dwikora). He called for defending the Indonesian Revolution and supporting revolutions in Malaysia to "crush Malaysia" (Ganyang Malaysia).

In August 1964, Indonesian forces began sending troops by sea and air into Peninsular Malaysia. On August 17, about 100 Indonesian paratroopers and marines landed by boat in Pontian, Malaysia. However, British Commonwealth forces quickly captured most of them.

On September 2, three Indonesian C-130 Hercules planes tried to drop paratroopers near Labis in Johore, Malaysia. One plane crashed, and the paratroopers were widely scattered. Commonwealth forces, including Gurkhas and New Zealand soldiers, spent a month capturing or killing most of them.

These attacks on Peninsular Malaysia led to a tense situation known as the Sunda Straits Crisis. British forces prepared for airstrikes against Indonesian bases if more attacks happened. This crisis was resolved peacefully.

By late 1964, the conflict seemed to be a stalemate. But Indonesia began building up more forces in Kalimantan, suggesting an escalation. Australia and New Zealand agreed to send combat troops to Borneo in early 1965.

Secret Cross-Border Raids

British Commonwealth forces started a secret operation called Operation Claret in June 1964. This involved small, highly trained teams, including the British Special Air Service (SAS) and later Australian and New Zealand SAS, crossing the border into Indonesian Kalimantan.

These raids aimed to gather information and ambush Indonesian forces before they could enter East Malaysia. They were kept very secret and followed strict rules. Operation Claret was successful in putting Indonesian forces on the defensive. These operations were only made public years later.

Tensions Ease

On September 30, 1965, an attempted coup happened in Jakarta, Indonesia. Six senior military leaders were killed. General Suharto took control of the armed forces. The blame for the coup was put on the Indonesian Communist Party (PKI).

This led to widespread arrests and violence against PKI members across Indonesia. As Suharto gained more power and Sukarno's influence decreased, Indonesia's attacks into Borneo began to slow down.

On May 28, 1966, Malaysia and Indonesia announced that the conflict was over at a meeting in Bangkok. A final peace treaty was signed on August 11, 1966, with Indonesia officially recognizing Malaysia.

How the British Commonwealth Fought Back

Command and Control

In early 1963, Major General Walter Walker was in charge of British forces in northern Borneo. He was called the Director of Borneo Operations (DOBOPS). He reported to the Commander in Chief Far East Forces in Singapore.

After Malaysia became independent, the Malaysian National Defence Council in Kuala Lumpur took over supreme authority. General Walker continued to attend their meetings.

Forces Involved

At the start, British forces in Borneo were limited to five UK and Gurkha infantry battalions. As the conflict grew, more troops were sent. By the end of 1964, British forces had about 14,000 troops. Naval ships, including minesweepers, patrolled the coast to stop Indonesian infiltrators.

Aircraft, especially helicopters, were crucial for transporting troops and supplies in the jungle. Helicopters would drop supplies or land in cleared areas.

Indonesia's forces along the border grew significantly, from about 2,500 in mid-1964 to between 15,000 and 30,000 men by late 1964.

Intelligence Gathering

A key factor in stopping Indonesian forces was good intelligence. British signals intelligence units could intercept and decode Indonesian military communications. This information was used to plan operations, including the secret cross-border raids.

British Jungle Tactics

General Walker used tactics learned from the Malayan Emergency. These included:

All military branches (army, navy, air force) working together.
Getting accurate information quickly.
Moving fast and being flexible.
Keeping bases safe.
Controlling the jungle.
Winning the support of local people.

Walker also created the Border Scouts, made up of local people like the Kelabit people. These scouts used their local knowledge to gather intelligence. The British also expanded their Police Special Branch to recruit sources.

British jungle tactics focused on moving quietly and being hard to detect. Patrols would travel lightly, often for many days without resupply. They used hand signals and avoided anything that could give away their position.

Patrolling was the main activity. Platoons (small groups of soldiers) would be dropped by helicopter. They moved in single file, with scouts leading the way. They had special drills for reacting to enemy contact or ambushes. Ambushes were a very effective tactic, often lasting for days, targeting enemy paths or waterways.

Artillery support was limited at first due to the dense jungle and lack of roads. Guns were often deployed in single sections and moved by helicopters to support operations.

Aftermath

The conflict lasted almost four years. After General Suharto took power in Indonesia, the fighting eased. Peace talks began in May 1966, and a final peace agreement was signed on August 11, 1966.

The war remained mostly a land conflict. Large-scale air or naval attacks were avoided by both sides. The British Secretary of State for Defence at the time, Denis Healey, called the campaign "one of the most efficient uses of military forces in the history of the world."

Casualties

The total British Commonwealth military casualties were 280 killed and 180 wounded. Most of these were British soldiers. Australian casualties were 16 killed and 9 wounded. New Zealand had 7 killed and 7 wounded. The remaining casualties were Malaysian military, police, and Border Scouts. Many British casualties happened in helicopter accidents.

Indonesian casualties were estimated at 590 killed, 222 wounded, and 771 captured.

Awards and Recognition

Many British Commonwealth soldiers received awards for their bravery during the campaign. Indonesian military personnel involved in the conflict received the Northern Borneo Military Campaign Medal. Two Indonesian marines, Usman and Harun, were honored as National Heroes of Indonesia.

Images for kids

A soldier statue in Tawau Confrontation Memorial marking the victory during the battle in Kalabakan, Tawau, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo.
A memorial in Ansip Ferry, Keningau, Malaysian Borneo, to the Royal Australian Engineers who served in Sabah by constructing a 123.2-kilometre road between Keningau and Sapulut from 1964 to 1966.
A memorial in Kundasang, Malaysian Borneo to the Commonwealth forces who served in Sabah, especially the Australians together with British, Malaysians and New Zealanders.
Monument to the victims of the "Konfrontasi" in Singapore
Dwikora monument in Nunukan Regency, North Kalimantan province of Indonesia.