| 21st Special Service Group | |
|---|---|
| 21 Gerup Gerak Khas ٢١ ڬروڤ ڬرق خاص | |
 The 21st Special Service Group'sberet backing. | |
| Founded | 1 August 1970; 55 years ago (1970-08-01) |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| Branch |  Malaysian Army |
| Type | Special forcescommand |
| Part of |  Malaysian Armed Forces |
| Headquarters | Camp Sri Iskandar,Johor |
| Nicknames | "21 GGK", "GGK", "Grup Gerak Khas", "21st Special Forces Group", "Malaysian Army Special Forces Command" |
| Colours | Jungle Green andCaribbean Blue |
| March | Gerak Khas |
| Mascot | Malayan tiger |
| Anniversaries | 1 August |
| Engagements | List |
| Commanders | |
| Current commander | Major General Dato' Ahmad Shuhaimi Mat Wajab |
| Colonel-in-chief | Sultan Ibrahim Ismail of Johor |
| Notable commanders | Borhan Ahmad,Zaini Mohd SaidSP,Awie Suboh,Adi Ridzwan Abdullah |
| Insignia | |
| Tactical formation patches |  |
The21st Special Service Group (Abbr.:21 SSG,Malay:21 Gerup Gerak Khas,Jawi:٢١ ڬروڤ ڬرق خاص), also known as the21st Special Forces Group, serves as thecommand for theMalaysian Army'sspecial forces, theGerak Khas. Since 1985, 21 SSG has also been considered the 21st combatbrigade within the Malaysian Army, which is reflected in its designation. Operating independently under the Malaysian Army, the unit reports directly to theChief of Army.[note 1] The headquarters of the 21 SSG are located atCamp Sri Iskandar inMersing,Johor.
On 10 May 2024,Major General Ahmad Shuhaimi Mat Wajab assumed command of the 21 SSG, succeeding Major General Mohd Adi Ridzwan.[1]
The 21st Special Service Group, formerly known asRejimen Pertama Gerak Khas Malaysia or the1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment, was founded on 1 August 1970, atCamp Sungai Udang inMalacca.[note 2] This unit directly succeeded the Malaysian Army'sspecial operationstask force, theMalaysian Special Service Unit (MSSU), and served as the spiritual successor to Malaysia's first modern special forces unit, theMalayan Special Forces.[note 3][2][3][4]
Following the conclusion of theIndonesia-Malaysia confrontation in 1966, the army command contemplated disbanding the MSSU. The MSSU, stationed atCamp Sebatang Karah inNegeri Sembilan, was atask force whose members were all commando-trained but belonged to their respective regiments or corps, including some sailors from theRoyal Malaysian Navy.[3][5]
In 1969, the13 May incident prompted the MSSU's deployment toKuala Lumpur to secure the weapons depot atCamp Mindef (Malay:Kem Kementah). The unit also worked alongside theRoyal Malaysia Police'sSpecial Branch, the country's domesticintelligence agency, to apprehendgang andtriad leaders suspected of orchestrating the violence behind the scenes. Due to the MSSU's effectiveness in handling the crisis, military leadership decided against its disbandment.[3][5]
On 1 August 1970, the Malaysian Army established the1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment (1 MSSR) to succeed the MSSU. Initially, MSSU personnel remained attached to their originalregiments,corps, andbranch while operating as a task force. To streamline the unit's structure, by 1973, MSSU personnel who wished to continue serving in special forces had to formally resign from their parent units and enlist in 1 MSSR as full-time members.[4]
On 1 January 1976, in response to the expansion of Malaysia's special forces, the 2nd Malaysian Special Service Regiment (2 MSSR) was formed. Additionally, on 1 August 1976, theSpecial Warfare Training Centre (SWTC) was established to provide commando and special operations training forGerak Khas. Given its seniority, 1 MSSR personnel were selected as instructors at SWTC. Around this time, the 1 MSSR headquarters company was also tasked with overseeing and commanding all special forces operations within the Malaysian Army.[4][5][6][7]
On 4 April 1980, the Malaysian Army separated the command structure of special forces from 1 MSSR by establishing theMalaysian Special Service Command (Malay:Markas Pemerintahan Gerak Khas) atCamp Imphal in Kuala Lumpur.[note 4] The majority of leadership from the 1 MSSR headquarters company was transferred to the new command, while 1 MSSR and 2 MSSR continued to operate as combat units.[5][7]
Subsequently, on 1 April 1981, the Malaysian Army renamed the Malaysian Special Service Command to theMalaysian Special Service Group (MSSG). At the same time, 1 MSSR was redesignated as the 21st Para Commando Regiment, and 2 MSSR became the 22nd Para Commando Regiment.[5][7]
Simultaneously, two newcounter-revolutionary warfare andmilitary intelligence units were formed: the11th Special Service Regiment (11 SSR) and the 12th Special Service Regiment (12 SSR), with the purpose of providing specialised support to the Para Commando regiments. In December 1981, numerous support units were established to provide additional combat support to the combat units under MSSG. However, in 1983, the 12 SSR was disbanded, and the 11 SSR was no longer exclusively assigned to the 21st Para Commando Regiment.[5][7]
In 1985, MSSG was rebranded as the21st Special Service Group (21 SSG) as part of the Malaysian Army's efforts to standardise unit designations and formally recognise it as the 21stbrigade within the army. This restructuring also led to the renaming of its combat units: the 21st Para Commando Regiment became the21st Commando Regiment (21 CDO), and the 22nd Para Commando Regiment became the22nd Commando Regiment (22 CDO).[5][7]
Additionally, in 1986, the 21st Engineering Squadron of 21 SSG, now known as the10th Squadron (Parachute), Royal Army Engineer, was transferred to the Malaysian Army's3rd Infantry Division. In 1995, the Special Warfare Training Centre was placed under theMalaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command.[5][7]
Camp Sri Iskandar, originally known as Camp Sri Mersing, was purpose-built as aspecial forcesbase inJohor. Locally, it is commonly referred to asCamp Iskandar orKem Iskandar, without theSri prefix. Located 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) south ofMersing, the camp spans 920 hectares (9.2 km2) and features extensive infrastructure, including 200 buildings, 20 kilometres (12 mi) of roads, three bridges, a harbour,helicopter landing pads, parade squares, and other facilities designed to support special operations and begin its construction in 2001. Construction of the base began in 2001.[8][9]
The 22nd Commando Regiment was the first unit to relocate to the new base in 2004, moving fromCamp Erskine inKuala Kubu Bharu,Selangor. Since then, 21 SSG has gradually transferred its headquarters from Camp Sungai Udang to Camp Sri Iskandar, with the relocation completed in 2009.[8][10]
Originally named Camp Sri Mersing, the base was later renamed Camp Sri Iskandar in honour of the lateSultan Iskandar of Johor, a strong supporter ofGerak Khas and its formerColonel-in-Chief.[10]
As a nation that is part of theCommonwealth, the Malaysian military adheres to the traditions of theBritish Armed Forces. In the case of the 21st Special Service Group, they have adopted the structure of theBritish Special Air Service, employing the term 'sabre squadron' instead of 'company', unlike other units within the Malaysian Army.[5]
1970–1980
1980–1981
1981–1983
1983–1985
1985–2017
| Unit's name (English) | Unit's name (Bahasa Malaysia) | Abbreviation | Beret backing | Headquarters | Specialty and purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garrison Headquarters | Markas Garison | MK GARISSON |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The MK GARISSON is a company-sized unit that provides administrative support to assist the 21 SSG in its administration. |
| 11th Special Service Regiment | 11 Rejimen Gerak Khas | 11 SSR |  | Camp Sungai Udang | The 11th Special Service Regiment stands as a top-tier special forces unit within the Malaysian Army and is one of the three combat units under the 21 SSG. Referred to as the11Unit Lawan Keganasan (Abbr.: 11 ULK), or the 11th Counter Terrorism Unit in English, its duties encompasscounter-terrorism, hostage rescue,close protection, andspecial reconnaissance. |
| 21st Commando Regiment | Rejimen 21 Komando | 21 CDO |  | Camp Sungai Udang | The 21st Commando Regiment (21 CDO) is one of the three combat units within the 21 SSG. Specialising in traditional special forces roles, the 21 CDO distinguishes itself by emphasisingairborne operations, in contrast to the 22nd Commando Regiment. Its capabilities encompassunconventional warfare,direct action,counter-insurgency and special reconnaissance. |
| 22nd Commando Regiment | Rejimen 22 Komando | 22 CDO |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The 22nd Commando Regiment is among the three combat units within the 21 SSG. After undergoing a restructuring in 2009, the 22 CDO now places a greater emphasis onamphibious operations compared to its previous specialisation inmountain warfare. Like the 21 CDO, its responsibilities encompass unconventional warfare, direct action, counter-insurgency, and special reconnaissance. Additionally, it has taken on a new role of anti-piracy.[11] |
| 21st Logistic Group | 21 Kumpulan Logistik | 21 KUMP LOG |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The 21 KUMP LOG is a specialised unit thatsupports combat operations for the 21 SSG by providing services likemilitary logistics. Formed in 2017, it is one of the newest units alongside the 21 MEDIC. Merging service support companies from the 21 SSG created the 21 KUMP LOG, resulting in three squadrons:
|
| 21st (Special Forces) Signal Squadron, Royal Signals | 21 Skuadron Semboyan Gerak Khas | 21 SSD |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The 21 SSD is a special operationscombat support unit tasked with providingcommunication support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG. |
| 21st (Special Forces) Medic Squadron, Royal Medicals | 21 Skuadron Medik Gerak Khas | 21 MEDIC |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The 21 MEDIC is a special operations support unit assigned to providemedical support to all units under the command of the 21 SSG. Alongside the 21st Logistics Group, established in 2017, these are the newest units of the 21 SSG. Its duties include supplying special operationscombat medics and delivering medical care to all special forces members and their families at army camps occupied by the 21 SSG. |
| 21st (Special Forces) Company, Royal Military Police | 21 Kompeni Polis Tentera Diraja | 21 KPTD |  | Camp Sri Iskandar | The 21 KPTD is amilitary police unit responsible for law enforcement within the 21 SSG and Camp Sri Iskandar. |
| 21 SSG Intelligence Cell,Royal Intelligence | Sel Risik 21 GGK | Camp Sri Iskandar | This unit managesmilitary intelligence operations, overseeing the careful dissemination of information within the 21 SSG to avoid leaks. |
The 21 SSG'sBAKAT manages family welfare support for the 21st Special Service Group. The spouse of the Commander of 21 SSG leads the organisation, with the commander serving as its patron.
Members ofGerak Khas inherit thegreen beret andFairbairn–Sykes fighting knife as a symbol ofcommando qualification, a tradition adopted from theRoyal Marines Commando. This practice originated when the initial group underwentcommando training at theBritish Army Jungle Warfare Training School with the40 Commando Royal Marines in 1965.[note 6][5]
In terms of exclusivity, theGerak Khas green beret is less restricted compared to themaroon beret of the10th Parachute Brigade (10 PARA BDE). Any Malaysian Army personnel attached to 21 SSG are permitted to wear the green beret, even if they have not completed theMalaysian Army Special Forces Selection. However, members who successfully complete the Special Forces Selection have the distinction of wearing their unit'sberet backing (the Malaysian equivalent of theU.S. military beret flash) to signify their commando qualification. This differs from theBritish Armed Forces and theU.S. Army, where only those who complete theRoyal Marines selection or theUnited States Army Special Forces selection are authorised to wear the green beret.[note 7][note 8] Likewise, the maroon beret of 10 PARA BDE is exclusively worn by those who graduate from theRapid Deployment Force pipeline.[3]
In 2023, during the tenure of Major GeneralAdi Ridzwan Abdullah asCommanding Officer of 21 SSG, an effort was made to increase the exclusivity of the green beret. During his command, only those who passed the Special Forces Selection were permitted to wear it, while others within 21 SSG who had not yet completed selection continued wearing their original unit berets. However, after his tenure ended, the policy was reverted to its previous state.[13][14]
_Insignia.svg)
The insignia, alternatively referred to as a tactical formation patch (Malay:Lencana formasi taktikal), is affixed to the combat uniform and bears olive and black colours. The patch prominently showcases a roaring tiger's head with a commando dagger positioned at the centre.
The personnel of the 21 SSG don their command insignia on the left shoulder sleeve of their number 2 uniform. The 21 SSG shoulder sleeve insignia closely resembles the beret backing but incorporates a distinct black outline. This current design draws inspiration from the insignia of theMalaysian Special Service Unit, featuring a striking depiction of a roaring tiger's head with a commando dagger at the centre. The background is a fusion ofjungle green andCaribbean blue, where jungle green signifies commando specialities and serves as a representation of the colour of Islam, while Caribbean blue pays homage to the founder, 40 Commando Royal Marines.[15]
Members of the 21 SSG don the number 3 uniform (work dress) paired with a green and light bluestable belt.
The 21st Special Service Group (21 SSG) and its subordinate units are expected to adopt a distinct camouflage uniform pattern to differentiate themselves from other formations within the Malaysian Army. The selected design is theMultiCam pattern, developed byCrye Precision and widely used by theUnited States Army.[16]
This initiative aligns with the long-standing practice within the Malaysian Armed Forces, whereby each special forces unit is issued a unique camouflage pattern exclusive to that formation. For instance, the Royal Malaysian Navy'sNaval Special Forces utilises theUS Navy SEALswoodland pattern, symbolising their lineage from the SEALs, while theRMAF Special Forces dons Malaysian Army tiger stripe pattern (corakBelang Harimau), reflecting their historical ties withGerak Khas and their role as anair force ground unit. Similarly, theRoyal Malaysia Police's69 Commando andSpecial Actions Unit, along with theMalaysian Coast Guard'sSTAR team, each employ distinct camouflage patterns tailored to their operational environments and identities.[16][17]
Plans for a new camouflage uniform for the 21 SSG were first mooted in 2019, when the Malaysian Armed Forces proposed the adoption of a standardised camouflage pattern across all tri-service special forces. The proposed design, while inspired by the original MultiCam pattern, incorporated distinctive horizontal elements. A demonstration version of the uniform was first showcased byFirst AdmiralDato'Anuar AliasPGB, then Commanding Officer of the Naval Special Forces, during the 2019 Navy Fleet Open Day. However, there have been no further official updates regarding the status of that standardisation initiative.[18]
The decision to proceed with the original Crye Precision MultiCam pattern for 21 SSG is believed to be influenced by the unit's close working relationship with the United States Army's1st Special Forces Group, which is based inOkinawa,Japan. The tender for the new camouflage uniform closed on 6 June 2025, and the 21 SSG is expected to begin wearing the new pattern in the near future.[16]
Since the establishment of the Malaysian Special Service Unit in 1965, 22 individuals have served as theCommander ofGerak Khas, also known as thePanglima Gerak Khas (lit. 'Commander of Special Forces') inMalay. Out of these 22 individuals, 17 have held the position of theCommander of the 21st Special Service Group (Malay:Panglima 21 Gerup Gerak Khas), which was created after 1981.[19]
The position begins after the Malaysian Special Service Command was renamed to the Malaysian Special Service Group on 1 April 1981.[20]
| No. | Portrait | Commander of the 21 SSG | Took office | Left office | Time in office | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | HarunBrigadier General Dato' Harun Taib | 1 January 1980 | 31 December 1983 | 3 years, 364 days | He retired as a Brigadier General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG |
| 2 | | BorhanBrigadier General Dato'Borhan Ahmad | 1 January 1984 | 18 December 1985 | 1 year, 351 days | He retired as aGeneral; he previously held the position of the 12thChief of Defence Forces |
| 3 | | HasbullahBrigadier General Datuk Hasbullah Yusof | 19 December 1985 | 30 June 1989 | 3 years, 193 days | While in service, he met a tragic end in a helicopter crash on 8 December 1989. At the time, he held the rank of Brigadier General and served as the Commander of the3rd Infantry Brigade |
| 4 | | Mohd RamliBrigadier General Dato’ Mohd Ramli Ismail | 1 July 1989 | 2 March 1993 | 3 years, 244 days | He retired as aMajor General; he previously held the position of the Commander of theMalaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command. Died on 13 November 2011 |
| 5 | | GhazaliBrigadier General Dato’ Ghazali Ibrahim | 3 March 1993 | 2 November 1995 | 2 years, 243 days | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the Malaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command |
| 6 | | DaudBrigadier General Dato' Daud Ariffin | 3 November 1995 | - | - | He retired as a Brigadier General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG |
| 7 | | Ahmad RodiBrigadier General Dato' Ahmad Rodi Zakaria | - | - | - | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the Malaysian Army Training and Doctrine Command |
| 8 | | AwieBrigadier General Dato'Awie Suboh | 1 September 2006 | 28 July 2009 | 2 years, 330 days | He retired as aLieutenant General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the1st Infantry Division |
| 9 | | Abdul SamadBrigadier General Dato' Abdul Samad Yaacob | 29 July 2009 | 2012 | - | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Assistant Chief-of-Staff of Malaysian Army Planning and Development |
| 10 | | HarunBrigadier General Dato' Harun Hitam | 2012 | - | - | He retired as a Brigadier General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG |
| 11 | | AffendyBrigadier General Dato' Affendy Abd Karim | - | 14 December 2016 | - | He retired as a Brigadier General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG |
| 12 | | ZolkopliMajor General Datuk Zolkopli Hashim | 15 December 2016 | 22 November 2017 | 342 days | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG[21] |
| 13 | | HasanLieutenant General Datuk Hasan Ali | 23 November 2017 | 19 July 2020 | 2 years, 239 days | He retired as a Lieutenant General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG[22] |
| 14 | | JamaluddinMajor General Datuk Jamaluddin Jambi | 20 July 2020 | 5 September 2021 | 1 year, 47 days | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG[19] |
| 15 | | NubliMajor General Nubli Hashim | 6 September 2021 | 14 May 2023 | 1 year, 250 days | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG[19] |
| 16 | | Mohd Adi RidzwanMajor General Mohd Adi Ridzwan Abdullah | 15 May 2023 | 10 May 2024 | 361 days | He retired as a Major General; he previously held the position of the Commander of the 21 SSG[23] |
| 17 | | Ahmad ShuhaimiMajor General Dato' Ahmad Shuhaimi Mat Wajab | 11 May 2024 | Incumbent | 1 year, 197 days | [24][1] |
| 1960 | 1965 | 1970 | 1980 Separated | 1981 Name changes | 1985 Name changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malayan Special Forces | Malaysian Special Service Unit | 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment | Malaysian Special Service Command | Malaysian Special Service Group | 21st Special Service Group |
| 1st Malaysian Special Service Regiment | 21st Para Commando Regiment | 21st Commando Regiment |
| Leadership |  | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formations |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Corps and Regiments |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Others | |||||||||||||||||