Operation Merdeka (Maharlikan Union)

Operation Merdeka
Part of the Malay-Philippine Conflict Cold War
Philippine Navy patrol boat (Quezon) approaching Sabah.
Date 31 August 1977 - July 4, 1982 (5 years) Location Result Philippine victory 1997 Handover Territorial changes Philippines occupied North Borneo and Brunei.
Belligerents
Philippines Supported by: United States (weapons and supply) Indonesia (weapons)	Malaysia Supported by: Brunei Soviet Union (weapons) Arab League
Commanders and leaders
Ferdinand Marcos Cesar Virata	Mahathir Mohamad Hussein Onn (until 1981) Hassanal Bolkiah
Strength
120,432 troops 300-604 aircraft 700-1000 tanks Troops deployed: 100,000 deployed	Malaysia: 111,439 troops 157 combat aircraft 504 tanks Troops deployed: 90,000 deployed Brunei: 21,435 troops 2 combat aircraft 10 tanks Troops deployed: 18,000 deployed
Casualties and losses
103 killed 12,403 wounded 2 aircrafts missing	11,340 killed 50,342 wounded 102 combat aircrafts destroyed 401 tanks destroyed

Operation Merdeka, also called the Philippine Invasion of Sabah or Invasion of Sabah, was a military operation conducted by the Philippine Armed Forces of the Philippines with the support of the United States and Indonesia. Philippine forces were initially successful in invading Sabah. It was only in 1981 when the Philippines captured all territory of Sabah and Brunei. As part of the Osaka Treaty in 1982, Malaysia will transferred North Borneo to the Philippines in 1997. Philippines will aid Malaysians $2 billion dollars and will also aid Bruneians $1 billion dollars for 30 years (1982-2012).

Invasion

The invasion took place on 1 a.m. when the Philippine fighter jets destroyed the Airport in Sabah. The Air Force fighter jets buzzed Malaysian positions on Sabah and Northern Sarawak. The Airforce also bombarded the coast of Sabah and Northern Sarawak. That morning, Malaysian citizen woke up to Filipino troops on their land. On 1978, the Philippines established the Philippine Military Governorate to prevent any revolution and armed rebellion.

Bruneian Occupation

Due to Brunei supporting Malaysian. The Philippines eventually planned to invade Brunei to avoid the alleged Malaysian invasion of Brunei. On 1980, the Philippine captured Brunei and established a military governorate. The King of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah was able to keep his position as the King, but the king was put under house arrest.

Aftermath

After the War, the Philippines and Malaysia called for a treaty committee to formulate the treaty called the Osaka Treaty . The Osaka Treaty ensured that the Malaysians will officially transferred North Borneo to the Philippines and the Philippines will aid Malaysians $2 billion dollars and also aid Bruneians $1 billion dollars per year. The treaty also ensured that Brunei will be under United Nations protection until its political system and social system is stable.

The Philippines's diplomatic relations with Malaysia remained frosty until the late 1980s. The failed Southeast Asia Treaty Organization alliance was eventually relaunch around the 1990s, thus warming tensions over the members involved.