*MILITARY MANOEUVRES ACT 1983

This Act shall apply throughout Malaysia.

Interpretation

to authorize the execution of military manoeuvres for training purposes in any part of the manoeuvring ground at any time of the year;

to direct military manoeuvres to be carried out within the manoeuvring ground without giving the notice required by subsection 5(1);

to cause, at any time of the year, firing exercises either on the ground, from the sea or from the air, experiments in gunnery, any act or practice incidental to such exercises or experiments, bombing or torpedo practices or any other military manoeuvre to be carried out in or over the firing ground, giving not less than seven days’ notice thereof to the occupiers of land in or over which such exercises, experiments, acts or practices are to take place, by the hoisting of a red flag in a conspicuous position within the firing area; and

to cause the removal of any building or vegetation within the firing ground which may hinder or interfere with the full exercise of the right given by this Act, and to prohibit the erection of any new building or the growing of any vegetation within the firing ground.

Notice of Military Manoeuvre

The notice shall also specify a date not earlier than one month from the conclusion of the military manoeuvre within which claims for compensation arising from the putting into force of any of the provisions of this Act shall be sent to the Secretary General of the

Ministry of Defence.

The State Government shall cause copies of the notice to be posted in every village and at other convenient places within the limits therein mentioned at least fourteen days before the day named for the commencement of the military manoeuvre.

Where no notice is necessary

pass over and encamp, construct military works not of a permanent character and execute military manoeuvres on any land; and

supply themselves with water from any source, public or private, and may for that purpose, dam up any running water:

Provided that such damming does not interfere with any trade or industry.

Nothing in this Act shall authorize—

At the conclusion of any military manoeuvre all military works, dams or other structures made or done under subsection (1)

shall be removed and any damage done to property shall be repaired and the property left as nearly as may be in the same condition as it was prior to the military manoeuvre.

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Laws of Malaysia ACT 295

Military manoeuvres and firing exercises not to be held in catchment area of waterworks

wilfully and unlawfully interferes with the execution of such military manoeuvre; or

without due authority enters or remains in any camp, he commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years and he and any animal or vehicle under his charge may be removed by any police officer or by order of any commissioned officer of the forces engaged in the military manoeuvre.

If during the continuance of any military manoeuvre any person—

The compensation shall be paid to all persons who send in their claims to the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence under subsection 5(2) within the period named in such notice or, if there is no such notice, within six months from the conclusion of the military manoeuvre.

In addition to any compensation in respect of damage for which compensation may be awarded under subsection (2), compensation shall also be paid to the owners or occupiers or both of land within any firing ground for any loss or damage arising from the land owned or occupied by them being declared and used as a firing ground under this Act.

The compensation shall, unless otherwise agreed, be in the form of an annual rent payable to every person entitled to such compensation so long as the land in respect of which it is paid continues to be a firing ground.

The amount of the compensation shall be such as is agreed upon between the Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence and the claimant, and if the amount of compensation cannot be settled by agreement, the claims shall be forwarded to the Collector for the district, who shall after such inquiry as he deems fit, determine the amount of compensation due.

Any claimant dissatisfied with the decision of the Collector may, not later than one month after the date of such decision, refer to arbitration in accordance with the provisions of the arbitration laws from time to time in force.

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Time limit for claim for compensation

No compensation shall be granted for any building erected or commenced after the posting of the rules under section 12.

Power to make rules

exclude all persons not engaged in the military manoeuvre from the whole or any part of the firing ground while such military manoeuvres are being carried out;

regulate the conduct of any persons permitted to be within the firing ground while such military manoeuvres are being carried out; and

prescribe any other matter which by this Act is required to be prescribed.

All such rules shall be published in the Gazette and copies thereof shall be posted in at least three conspicuous places within or near the manoeuvring or firing ground.

Where an area to which these rules apply consists of any sea or tidal water, or the shore thereof, and the boundaries of the area cannot, in the opinion of the Armed Forces Council, be conveniently marked by

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permanent marks, those boundaries shall be described in the rules and shall be deemed to be sufficiently marked for the purposes of this Act if, while the area is in use for military purposes, sufficient means are taken to warn the public from entering the area.

Penalty for breach of rules