PASKAL: KD Panglima Hitam

PASKAL: KD Panglima Hitam TLDM

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Formed on October 1st, 1980, PASKAL was officially established as the Malaysian Government began to enforce its EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) which covers 200 nautical miles off Malaysian waters. In addition, there was a requirement to protect Malaysian offshore stations near the disputed Spratly Islands. The security of more than thirty offshore oil rigs in Malaysian waters are solely the responsibility of PASKAL, and the unit has held regular training exercises on each of those oil rigs. Although part of PASKAL's mission consists of securing beachheads, deep penetration reconnaissance raids, structure and underwater demolition and sabotage, their range of training and activity extends beyond. PASKAL's repertoire also includes in-harbour underwater sabotage, ship-boarding assault, Counter-Terrorist missions (CT), special infiltration tactics behind enemy lines and mine-clearing operations. Special joint training with special Army units are also conducted regularly on specialised skills like HALO and HAHO overwater and overland parachute jumps.

PASKAL operatives were deployed in the activities subsequent to the hijacking by Somalian pirates of two Malaysian merchant vessels, MISC-owned Bunga Melati 2 and Bunga Melati 5 as well as Chinese-registered ship, Zhenhua 4 and Indian crude oil tanker MT Abul Kalam Azad in the dangerous pirate-infested Gulf of Aden.

In April 15, 2009, PASKAL Team Command (PTC) was officially named KD Panglima Hitam in a ceremony held at the Royal Malaysian Navy HQ in Lumut, Perak by the King of Malaysia, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin to honour PASKAL's services to the nation. Panglima Hitam is the traditional nickname awarded to proven warriors during the era of the various Malay Sultanates in Perak, Selangor, Johor and Negeri Sembilan.

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