JUNGLE OPERATION: TYPICAL JUNGLE FEATURES IN MALAYSIA
Operations in Jungle Areas forms a major aspect of the Malaysian Army’s role and functions. The Army has had vast experience operating in the jungles of the country throughout the Insurgency era. The Army has also earned the reputation as the experts in jungle warfare due to its successes against the insurgents of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM). Based on this premise, the Army must support and maintain this level of proficiency so that it is able to continue conducting operations in the jungle areas.
The jungle is used to describe extreme close country in tropical areas throughout the world. In a tropical forest, the trees and plants grow very closely together. Jungles include densely forested areas, grasslands, cultivated areas and swamps. The dominating features and characteristics of jungle areas are a high and constant temperature, heavy rainfall and high humidity. The jungle has only two seasons: the wet and dry season.
Jungles can be further described as primary or secondary jungles based on its terrain and vegetation. A typical jungle feature in the tropical rainforest areas of Peninsular Malaysia as follows:
Tropical Rain Forest - These consists mostly of large trees where branches spread and lock together to form canopies. These canopies which can exist at two or three different levels, may form as low as 10 metres from the ground. The canopies prevent sunlight from reaching the ground, causing a lack of undergrowth on the jungle floor. Extensive above-ground root systems and hanging vines are also common in these forest. These conditions, combined with a wet and soggy surface, make vehicle movement difficult. Nonetheless, foot movement is easier in tropical rain forests than in other types of jungle. Except where fallen trees or construction make a gap in the canopy of the rain forest, observation from air is nearly impossible. Ground observation is generally limited to about 50 metres or less.
Deciduous Forest - These are found in semitropical zones where there are both wet and dry seasons. In the wet season, trees are fully leaved whilst in the dry season much of the foliage withers and eventually dies. Trees are generally less dense in deciduous forests than in rain forests. This allows more rain and sunlight to filter to the ground, producing thick undergrowth. During the wet season, with the trees in full leaf, observation both from the air and on the ground is limited whilst movement is restricted.
Secondary Jungle - These are found at the edge of the rain forest and deciduous forest, and in areas where the jungle have been cleared and abandoned. Secondary jungles appear when the ground has been repeatedly exposed to sunlight, or has been logged or cleared. These areas are typically overgrown with weed, grass, ferns, canes and shrubs. Movement, even on foot is slow and difficult. Vegetation may reach to a height of 2 metres, which will limit observation to only a few metres.
