Malaysian Army Aims For Positive Outcome At AARM 2026
MELAKA, Sept 17 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Army (TDM) is aiming for a positive outcome at the ASEAN Armies Rifle Meet (AARM) 2026 this November through intensive training plans, using the Army Skill-At-Arms Meet (UKM TD) as the primary selection platform for its elite marksmen.
Army chief Gen Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman said that although the army had not set a specific target due to changes in training and competition formats, confidence remained high for the national squad to compete strongly.
"At this stage, we cannot predict the best results, but with the training conducted by the army, God willing, we will achieve good results this year," he told Bernama after attending the closing ceremony of UKM TD 2026 at the Terendak Camp in Sungai Udang here today.
Azhan said that the biennial UKM TD was not merely a routine competition, but served as an official platform for all army formations to test weapon handling skills and assess operational combat readiness.
He added that this year's edition of UKM TD was elevated to a top-tier screening ground to select TDM's elite marksmen for AARM, which is Southeast Asia's most prestigious international shooting competition.
"The competition gathers top shooters from the armies of 11 ASEAN member nations, including Timor-Leste, with Malaysia hosting this year's edition.
"However, Timor-Leste will not be participating in the AARM competition this year," he said, adding that hosting the meet serves as a strategic platform to foster camaraderie and regional unity among ASEAN armies.
He said the tournament featured five main events for individual and team categories, namely rifle, carbine, men's pistol, women's pistol, and machine gun, alongside the highlight falling plate event.
Meanwhile, he said TDM was also preparing to host two other major ASEAN defence events concurrently - the ASEAN Chiefs of Army Multilateral Meeting (ACAMM) and the ASEAN Army Sergeant Majors Annual Meeting (ASMAM).
"ACAMM brings together ASEAN Army Chiefs to discuss regional security issues and strengthen military cooperation, while ASMAM serves as a platform for senior non-commissioned officers to discuss professional development, leadership, and the direction of other ranks," he said, adding that hosting all three large-scale events required thorough technical and logistical preparations.
Earlier, the 2026 edition of UKM TD featured 729 participants, comprising 91 officers and 638 personnel from TDM as well as seven other national security and enforcement agencies, namely the Royal Malaysian Navy, Royal Malaysian Air Force, Royal Malaysia Police (via the Special Actions Unit), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Johor Military Force, and the Malaysian Prisons Department.
-- BERNAMA
