Fathership

M'sia military video simulated retaking of territories previously captured by an "enemy"

M'sia's new leader Ismail Sabri was Minister of Defence when military video was recorded

|3 min read
M'sia military video simulated retaking of territories previously captured by an "enemy"

A video posted on Facebook by the Malaysian Army during Singapore's National Day Parade (Aug 21) has been raising eyebrows.

The video showcased military personnel from Malaysia's 10th Parachute Brigade (commonly known as 10 Para) listening to a briefing by their commander, identified as Brigadier General Khairul Azmizal Ahmad Natal.

10 Para is a quick reaction force based in Malacca, specialising in airborne and amphibious operation. They are primarily the first responders to any conflict and can be rapidly deployed as the main offensive force in times of war or emergencies.

Pictured: 10 Para members and the Malaysian police standing guard in 2016 when Malaysia was put on a high terrorist alert due to ISIS

Exercise simulated the retaking of territory previously captured by an "enemy"

The exercise - codenamed "Para Predator" - is premised on the retaking of towns previously captured by an "enemy" identified as "101 CORP" and to prevent further loss of territories.

In the scenario, 101 Corp's primary mission objective was to capture the federal territory of Putrajaya through Kuantan (in the state of Pahang) and the town of Gerik (in the state of Perak) by conducting pre-emptive strikes on strategic military installations located along the East coast states of peninsular Malaysia.

In addition, 101 Corp was to conduct a major exercise as a deception plan to move all military assets from a small island towards the mainland (Tekong, anyone?)

10 Para mission objective was to:

  • deny 101 Corp from invading Peninsular Malaysia

  • deny 101 Corp from capturing Putrajaya

"Punching through enemy lines" and "two crossing sites"

According to the video, 10 Para will "drop behind the enemy line" and "get the affiliation assets and units to support the LPBG (Leading Parachute Battle Group)" to defend and secure "two crossing sites".

Some netizens suggested that the two crossing sites refers to the causeway linking Singapore and Malaysia in Tuas and Woodlands.

On the contrary, 10 Para's objective was to "establish two crossing sites" in the vicinity of a town called Chenor (Pahang), 182km away from Putrajaya. They were to secure and hold the town for "at least 72 hours and up to 7 days" to facilitate a counterattack by supporting infantry forces coming from Kuantan.

Military operation planned while M'sia new leader was still the Minister of Defence

Concidentally, Malaysia's new prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was formerly the Minister of Defence, a role he assumed from 10 March 2020 to 16 August 2021.

The military video was recorded on 17 August 2021, a day after Ismail officially left office.

Was the video a subtle message by Ismail to Singapore?

Or is Ismail looking to drum up domestic support by portraying Singapore as the foreign boogeyman?

Ismail is a divisive figure in Malaysia, with over 350K Malaysians signing a petition against him as PM.

Ismail had previously courted controversy in 2015 as the minister in charge of domestic trade, for a Facebook post in which he urged Malay consumers to boycott what he said were profiteering Chinese businesses.

That same year, he raised more hackles by setting up what became known as "Low Yat 2", a digital-gadget mall at which only Malay-owned computer businesses were allowed to trade.

Read next article ⬇️

Who is Nurul Afiqah, the activist who stormed Law Minister K Shanmugam's MPS?

Locum nurse by day, local disruptor by night.

|4 min read
Who is Nurul Afiqah, the activist who stormed Law Minister K Shanmugam's MPS?

What started as a polite exchange at a Meet-the-People Session (MPS) on Wednesday evening (Mar 12), spiraled into chaos at the Chong Pang Branch office in Nee Soon GRC.

Law Minister K Shanmugam found himself squaring off against a group of activists who stormed the session with a singular demand: a rhetorical back and forth over the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act (POFMA)—Singapore’s 2019 weapon against online lies, and Palestine.

Activists branded Shanmugam a “coward,” flashed middle fingers, and clashed with volunteers trying to capture the melee on video.

Who Is Nurul Afiqah?

Enter Nurul Afiqah, aka Afiqah Kamel—a rising star in Singapore’s activist galaxy. By day, she’s a locum staff nurse; by conviction, she’s a megaphone for the downtrodden, tethered to Sick and Tired, a collective amplifying the voices of healthcare workers and patients.

Her first foray into public activism was on Labour Day 2024, Afiqah seized the mic, railing against the paltry wages and grueling conditions plaguing grassroots healthcare staff. But her fire burns beyond the hospital's burn unit—she’s a fierce advocate for Palestine.

Afiqah Kamel

Since December 8, 2023, she’s hosted Chapterwise Bookclubs every Friday night, first at Punggol - where she resides, and later on at Our Tampines Hub.

These aren’t your average book chats; they’re curated deep dives into the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Her activist streak flared in February 2024 with a cheeky “Free Airshow Attendee Shaming Service”—a satirical jab at Israel’s role in the Singapore Airshow.

Hungry for bigger waves, she teamed up with seasoned rabble-rouser Suraendher Kumaar, trading quiet defiance for full-on disruption.

The art of disruption

Afiqah’s baptism into disruptive activism kicked off on September 16, 2024, alongside Suraendher, targeting MP Edward Chia’s MPS in Holland-Bukit Timah GRC.

Edward Chia MPS

Armed with pointed questions about Singapore’s alleged ties to Israel’s actions in Palestine, they unleashed a verbal barrage. Chia humored them, and the night ended in a tense “agree to disagree,” with vague promises of follow-ups.

A month later, they cornered MP Sun Xueling—Afiqah’s own Punggol West rep—at her MPS.

The script was familiar: Singapore-Israel ties took center stage, and the back-and-forth felt like a broken record.

By January 2025, REACH, the government’s feedback arm, dangled a closed-door chat. Afiqah and her posse pushed for an open forum but got shut down.

REACH Meeting

The Playbook

The group, operating under the banner we.the.pofma, developed a clear modus operandi: "raid" MPS sessions, pose leading questions about Singapore-Israel ties, present a petition signed by over 70 people condemning Israel, and share interaction summaries on Instagram.

They’ve rallied the public with a battle cry—join the “ongoing initiative,” complete with talking points, constituency hit lists, and post-raid recaps.

Activist Strategy

Interactions reviewed by Fathership suggest the group plans to intensify MPS visits in the lead-up to anticipated elections later in 2025.

The People’s Action Party (PAP) tallies over 10 such ambushes across constituencies in recent months. They’ve slammed the group’s antics as disruptive and antisocial, lamenting the hijacking of a forum meant to serve residents.

Afiqah’s rebel alliance

Afiqah’s activism intersects significantly with Suraendher Kumaar (sometimes spelled Kumarr), a veteran activist known for championing workers’ rights, labor issues, minority rights, and the Palestine cause. Suraendher leads we.the.pofma, a seemingly collaborative group tied to prominent activists like Kokila, Kirsten Han, PJ Thum, Jolovan Wham, and Elijah Tay.

Activist Network

Suraendher Kumaar

His network also includes ties to Leon Perera, a former Workers’ Party member who resigned in 2023 over an infidelity scandal with Nicole Seah. Perera notably served as a keynote speaker at the launch of Suraendher’s People’s Manifesto in July 2024.

Afiqah, through Suraendher Kumar also works closely with SDP Young Democrats.

SDP Young Democrats

Afiqah’s on a collision course with Singapore’s status quo, hell-bent on spotlighting the Israel-Palestine saga and picking apart policies like POFMA.

She has opted for disruptive activism because her Chapterwise Book Club meets weren't impactful enough to change the world.

Trading quiet enlightenment for loud MPS ambushes proved disruptive activism is the real spice of life when polite discussion just won't cut it.