The UTK performs as a high-level national tactical unit, providing hour close protection to high ranking government executives, as well as their partners. Additionally, undercover and covert missions are also conducted by the unit's members. UTK is the earliest and most experienced unit in dealing with international terrorist organizations inside and outside Malaysia. The terrorists won the release of five imprisoned comrades and flew with them to Libya.
Although amalgamated into one unit, they are still essentially two separate entities operating in two distinct operational environments. In , select Malaysian counter-terrorism operators are grouped into one special operations task force , called the National Special Operations Force in which a few UTK operators were selected to be part of.
National Security Council Directive No. Under the same derivative and standing order, the official name for the unit is ' Unit Tindakhas '.
The tactics and organization of the UTK are primarily influenced by the German GSG-9 , but with a difference; UTK operatives operate mostly in plain clothes and also perform undercover missions. With approximately members, the UTK is deployed in cases of hostage taking, kidnapping, terrorism and extortion.
The group may also be used to secure locations, neutralize targets, track down fugitives, escorting and protecting leaders and VIPs, and occasionally conduct sniper operations. UTK and VAT 69 is given another role which is to support these three new units in term of training and technical capabilities.
