Penglibatan Senoi Praaq dalam Pasukan Keselamatan di Perak, 1948-1974 (Involvement of ‘Senoi Praag’ in the Security Forces in Perak, 1948-1974)

Abstract

This article explores the early involvement of Senoi Praaq and aborginal people in the security forces in Perak during the emergency era. Before Senoi Praaq was appointed as one of the battalions in the General Operation Force, Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), the Senoi Praaq force played a non-permanent role as a security force that helped the British colonial contain the communist threat in Perak. This role continued until after the independence of Malaya. The development of Senoi Praaq's involvement in the security forces is proved through sources from the Ministry of Home Affairs, RMP and Senoi Praaq's records from the National Archives of Malaysia. The results of the study found that the initial structure of the Senoi Praaq force was built by the British through training carried out by the Special Air Regiment from England. After independence, the Senoi Praaq team was absorbed into the RMP service as a non-permanent security force. Despite efforts to increase the force's capacity and the aboriginal people's social status, the challenge of forming a battalion in the early 1970s resulted in the position of the Senoi Praaq not having undergone major changes since the era of British administration. This article argues that the Senoi Praaq team has played 'key player' at the frontier to ensure that the communist influence can be contained effectively during the era of emergency.