The Malaysian government recently launched a new joint special operations organisation to counter the multi-faceted threats of terrorism menacing the country. Dubbed the National Special Operations Force (NSOF), the establishment is meant to safeguard the country from threats to national security. Members of the NSOF will initially comprise of 17 officers and 170 special forces personnel from the various security services namely the Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), and Royal Malaysia Police. Officials said the NSOF is meant to be a central body to manage threats efficiently and in a coordinated manner. Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak, who made the announcement Oct 27 said units from the force will be the first responder to any terror threat. "They can be deployed at a moment's notice. I am confident the force will be successful in safeguarding the country's peace and security, given the current threats," the prime minister said during the launch of the NSOF at the army's Kem Perdana in Sungai Besi where it is based. The role of the force is to remove any threats on land or water and to prepare contingency plans to face all forms of threats, it was announced. "Not a day goes by without a terror incident occurring in the world, so we must be prepared at all times," he said, adding that the NSOF was near operational. "With the sharing of assets and capabilities, the NSOF would be under a single chain of command, Najib said. The prime minister said the formation of the unit was a testament to the government's commitment to not compromise on the country's peace and security. Defence minister Hisham-muddin Hussein, attorney-general Apandi Ali and deputy inspector-general of police Noor Rashid Ibrahim were also present at the event.
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