The main objective of the command, led by General Sir Archibald Wavell, was to maintain control of the "Malay Barrier" (or "East Indies Barrier"), a notional line running down the Malayan Peninsula, through Singapore and the southernmost islands of Dutch East Indies.
Hovedformålet med kommandoen, som var under ledelse af Sir Archibald Wavell, var at fastholde kontrollen over den Malayiske barriere (eller Ostindiske barriere) en imaginær linje, som løb ned gennem Malayahalvøen gennem Singapore og de sydligste øer i Hollandsk Ostindien.