Citer Hubby : MTAT (Introduction)

Designation. The Malaysian Armed Forces Staff College (MAFSC) is designated in Bahasa Malaysia as Maktab Turus Angkatan Tentera (MTAT).

Location. MTAT is located in an area traditionally known as HAIGATE in Kuala Lumpur. It is situated immediately behind the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The MTAT was established with the primary aim of training officers in order to meet the increasing demands of trained staff officers by the three Services. Prior to its formation, only a few officers were selected for such training at overseas staff colleges.

The establishment of MTAT was first mooted in 1967 by the late YAB Tun Abdul Razak bin Dato’ Hussein, who was then the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Defence.Subsequently, the Armed Forces Council agreed to the formation of the College at its 123rd meeting on 27 October 1970.

“HAIGATE” was chosen as the temporary site for the College because of its colourful background, being an old but picturesque conglomeration of brick and wooden blocks of huts adjacent to the Ministry of Defence. The camp was first built during the post-war period and served as an Officers’ Mess (Imphal Mess). It later became a series of temporary army camps, the last being Headquarters of Second Malaysian Infantry Division and Headquarters of Lines of Communication Engineer Regiment.

The College welcomed its first batch of 30 students drawn from the three Servicesin January 1972. The intake was increased the following year when the College took in officers from the Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Civil Service in addition to those of the three Services, making a total of 32 students.

In 1974 the College opened its door to overseas participants. Participants from friendly countries namely, Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Thailand and the United Kingdom joined the course. Since then, the student intake has increased with a proportional representation of officers from overseas.

In its quest for quality and excellence, the College conducts a twinning programme with the University of Malaya for a Diploma in Strategic and Defence Studies. The programme for Staff College first started in 1995. The subjects for this diploma form part of the overall curriculum and they are conducted by the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Malaya.

A student who successfulltherefore be awarded two diplomas, that is the y completes both can `passed staff college’ (psc) from MTAT and a Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic and Defence Studies from the University of Malaya (UM). All marks awarded for the post Graduate Diploma in Strategic and Defence Studies are absorbed into the overall Staff College Course assessment. To implement this programme, the UM Programme Coordinator and six professors and lecturers are assigned to the College during the UM module.

BRIEF HISTORY

The College Board is responsible to the Armed Forces Council for the governing and overall administration of MTAT in pursuit of its mission. The Board comprises of:

• Chairman : Chief of Defence Force.
• Members :

1. Secretary General Ministry of Defence.
2. Chief of Army.
3. Chief of Navy.
4. Chief of Air Force.
5. Chief of Staff, MAF HQ.
6. Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) Universiti of Malaya

• In Attendance :

1. Assistant Chief of Staff Personnel Services, MAF HQ.
2. Assistant Chief of Staff Operations and Training, MAF HQ.
3. Commandant of the Armed Forces Defence College (AFDC).
4. Commandant of Malaysian Armed Forces Staff Collage.

• Secretary : GSO 1 Coord of Malaysian Armed Forces Staff Collage .

The Board is the authority to decide and recommend on the general policy relating to the overall administration and conduct of the Course. These include:

• The design of the Course and its curriculum based on the recommendation by theCommandant of the College.
• The qualifying course standards and final grading of Course Partipants (CP) for the award of “psc” (passed staff college).
• The final grading of CP, in conjuction with UM, for the award of the Post Graduate Diploma in Strategic and  Defence studies.
• Awards of Excellence for the Best Army, Navy, Air Force and Overseas CP as well as the Best Commandant’s Paper.
• The withdrawal, dismissal or suspension of any CP from the Course.
• The policy on allocation of course vacancies to the three Services of the Malaysian Armed Forces, the Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Civil Service and overseas countries.
• The policy on annual capacity of CP intake.
• The qualifying entry standard.
• Any other aspects pertaining to the management of the Course as recommended by the Commandant.

The Board meets a minimum of once a year or as and when required by the Chairman. It has the authority to issue directives to the Commandant of the College from time to time.