Armed Forces now more orderly, says Army chief

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Raja Mohamed (left), assisted by Mohd Zaki (right) shows the memento presented to him  at his appreciation event organised by the East Field Command at Muara Tuang Camp in Kota Samarahan.

Raja Mohamed (left), assisted by Mohd Zaki (right) shows the memento presented to him at his appreciation event organised by the East Field Command at Muara Tuang Camp in Kota Samarahan.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: It is vital for the operational capability of the army based in East Malaysia to be directionally structured, said Army chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Mohamed Noor.

He said this is because there are now two separate commands.

“Previously, there was only one division looking after security in Sabah and Sarawak, but now the task is divided into two, and it is more orderly and organised,” he noted.

Raja Mohamed gave this view to reporters after attending an appreciation ceremony of the Army Chief for officers and men of the army’s Eastern Command at Muara Tuang Camp in Kota Samarahan near here yesterday.

He hoped the formation of the Border Brigade Regiment and the border patrols early next year would improve border security in both states.

He said the Lahad Datu camp would be set up early next year and would be completed in 18 months.

On the readiness of the Malaysian Armed Forces to serve in any part of the world, Raja Mohamed said they were prepared to be sent to any country in turmoil including Myanmar, if required by the United Nations.

In his speech earlier on, he urged army personnel to always have a strong fighting spirit and place the nation’s security and interests above their own.

Raja Mohamad who is due to end his term as the 25th Army Chief and will be appointed Malaysian Armed Forces Chief on Dec 16, taking over from General Tan Sri (Dr) Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, said all army personnel must remain united when faced with any threat.

“We are paid salaries and allowances, so we should have a sense of gratitude translated into giving the best service to the country.

“We must be prepared to sacrifice for the sake of peace and honour of the country, in fact every armed forces personnel must hold fast to the oath that they took,” he said.

Earlier, Eastern Region Field Commander Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar in his speech praised Raja Mohamed for doing a lot for the military in East Malaysia.

He credited Raja Mohamed for being the person behind moving the assets to assist Sabah when it was infiltrated by foreign invaders and the setting up of Esscom, the setting of Task Force 450 which will be the nucleus for the 5th Infantry Division and also the setting up of the 31st Sarawak Border Brigade.

First Division Infantry Commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw and Task Force 450 Commander Major General Zulkapri Rahmat were among those present.