From 'yeye' fun to security risk: What Malaysia's military camp scandal reveals

Security analysts say such settings create exploitable counterintelligence threats

- Muzliza Mustafa

Plagued by recurring scandals, Malaysia's military faces a crisis of confidence that is damaging its public standing and eroding trust within the ranks. PHOTO: MALAYSIA ARMED FORCES/FACEBOOK

(MALAYSIA ARMED FORCES/FACEBOOK)

Malaysian Armed Forces are trained to guard the nation against external threats, but one of their most serious vulnerabilities today may come from within.

Twenty-one Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel now face disciplinary action for illicit activities in a military camp, a scandal that Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said on Jan 12 has contributed to the “ugly and distorted views” of the military, threatening its credibility.

But the controversy over “yeye” culture - covert gatherings involving booze, entertainment and intimacy - reaches beyond institutional embarrassment. Security analysts warned that these settings create exploitable counterintelligence vulnerabilities at a time when Malaysia's military is already under scrutiny over corruption and misconduct.

The term “yeye” mimics the sound of excitement or happiness, and originally referred to a British-era tradition for young officers to unwind and learn etiquette at informal gatherings.

As rules tightened, however, and the practice was formally banned, the culture mutated and drifted from its original aims.

What survived in the shadows was not heritage, but excess.

Former insiders described call girls being brought into camps late at night, alcohol exchanged discreetly, and empty spaces converted into makeshift bars, with music playing in the background.

One armed forces insider, who took part more than two decades ago when he was single, said the parties were organised by the officers themselves.

"We collected money so we could buy liquor and invited women into the camp for fun," said the source, who wished to remain anonymous, given the controversial nature of the topic.