The Royal Military College, formerly called The Federation Military College, has been described by various names – some have called it “The Sandhurst of Malaysia” while others have termed it as The Synthesis of Eton-Sandhurst. It has attained meteoric rise in practically all fields, and has earned widespread acclaim not only in academic and military domains, but equally so on the field, and most of all in quality of its graduants. It is no exaggeration that RMC today commands the respect of not only the general public, but also recognation from all other well-known and long established educational institutions in the country.
 
 

Background

Hence in July 1952, the Federation Regiment Bill was passed in the Federal Legislative Council. This Bill opened a new page in Malayan Military history for it paved the way for the development of the first multi-racial infantry unit called the Federation Regiment. This was later followed by the formation of the various support and logistic units, such as the Federation Armoured Car Regiment, Artillery, Engineers, Supply and Transport, Electrical and Mechanical Engineers and the Ordinance.

Regarding traning centers, before 1952, there had been what was called the “Training Depot of the Malay Regiment” in Port Dickson. Here courses were held in signals, tactics and administration. The Depot also provide educational facilities to bring selected members of the Regiment up to the necessary academic standard for acceptance at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, for higher military training, with a view to qualifying for commissioned rank.
 
 

The Birth of RMC

As far as the development of RMC is concerned, the 3rd of July 1952, is of utmost historic significance, for on this auspicious day an important announcement was made by Mr. M.E.B. David, the Secretary of Defence, in the Federal Legislative Council Meeting. He announced the decision to expand the Malay Regiment Training Depot to be called The Malay Regiment Training Center. The traning center, was to constitute two additional sections: The Pre-Officer Cadet Traning Unit (Pre-OCTU) and an inter-racial Boys Company.

As for the Boys Company, it was to be part of the Malayan Army, serving the Malay Regiment and the Federation Regiment. The function of the Boys Company was to provide education to sons of serving officers and other ranks in the Malay Regiment, leading to the School Certificate level, coupled with the rudiments of military traning.

The first intake of 74 Boys into the Boys Company were recruited in August 1952, from the total of 100 applicants. The aged of the Boys ranged between 14 and 15 years. Their educational qualification, according to a 1952 newspaper buletin, was to be the equivalents of Standard 4 (English-medium). In addition to these academic requirements those who were shortlisted had to undergo various aptitude tests too.
 
 

Establishment of Federation Military College (FMC)

The college was now to become seat of learning, as well as a center for traning the nation’s leaders in government service as well as battlefield, meet the ambition project to the founder - High Commissioner Field Marshal Tun Sir Gerald Templer K.G. GCB GC MG KBE DSO DCL.

With the establishment of FMC, a Charter of the College outlining specific objective of this institution came into being. It is reported that Tun Templer himself drafted its opening paragraph which was remained unchanged since the inception of the College in 1953. The Charter stated:

The task of looking after the academic aspects in the Boys Wing was however entrusted to a Director of Studies (DOS) – a civilian Senior Education Officer. He was responsible to the Commandant for carrying out the scholastic policy down by the Board of Governors of the College and thus adviser to the Commandant on general educational policies. The DOS had 3 Senior-Assistants each responsible for the specialist teaching of a group of subjects – called the Head of Science and Mathematics and Head of Arts.”

For the purpose of military traning, and the co-ordination of domestics military administration required within the Boys Wing, a Officer-in-Charge (O.C.) was posted. He was responsible to the Director of Studies (DOS) and thus ultimately to the Commandants.

Furthermore, the emphasis, as is obvious, was not merely in serving the nation in any manner but in the capacity as leaders. This aspiration is best epitomized in the motto the College adopted – “SERVE TO LEAD”.

In September 1954, the Commemoration Foundation Day was celebrated in a grand manner. Preset to witness the Commemoration Day Parade were the High Commissioner, Sir Donald Macgilivray, His Highness, the Sultan of Selangor, the Yang Dipertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, The Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Abdul Razak and a large number of dignities from all walk of life.
 
 

New FMC Site

In 1958, reports of a proposal $20 million cantonment, covering an area of 1200 acres, to be located near Sungai Besi (about 10 miles from Kuala Lumpur) began appearing in local press. Hence with that, the problem of findings a suitable site was settled once and for all.

The entire project, expected to be completed by 1963, was financed by the British Government under the United Kingdom Grants-in-aid Funds. Two hundred acres were allocated for the new Federal Military College.

The site reserved for the College consisted of scenic surroundings. The new home of the FMC was situated on a hill overlooking of disused mining pools. The College buldings were to be modelled on the lines of some of the best military academies overseas. They were to consists of an assembly hall, dormitories, classrooms, a gymnasium, laboratories, some 140 married-quarters for all ranks and civilians employees and numerous playing fields.

The shifting was finally completed from Port Dickson by April 1961 to a new beautiful FMC costed about $7.5 millions within ten days. About 160 lorry-loads of special stores and 90 lorry-loads of the families’ personal belongings

On the 20th of June 1961, the Yang Dipertuan Agung, as Supreme Commander of the Malayan Armed Forces, officially opened the new complex. The colourful ceremony was watched by some 1000 guests. In acknowledgement of the immense debt which FMC owed the High Commissioner Field Marshal Tun Sir Gerald Templer K.G. GCB GC MG KBE DSO DCL., the Assembly Hall was aptly named DEWAN TUN TEMPLER.
 
 

FMC CONFERRED THE Royal TITLE

On December 9th, 1966, in a ceremony held at the College, the Yang DiPertuan Agong conferred the “ROYAL” title to the FMC. This was a great honour for the College for no other educational institution in the history of this nation has the “royal” title bestowed upon it. Hence since 1966, the former Federation Military College came to be known as the ROYAL MILITARY COLLEGE or MAKTAB TENTERA DIRAJA.
 
 
 
 

Last updated: January 2001
Royal Military College, Malaysia