Kamarulzaman (centre) presents an appreciation certificate to a navy veteran. Also seen is Lt Com Aminruddin Bonimin.
KUCHING: The Royal Malaysian Navy presented appreciation certificates to 26 veterans during its ‘Fair Winds and Following Seas’ appreciation ceremony on Wednesday.
In his speech, navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin said many navy veterans have gone on to have successful second careers including in business, the oil and gas industry, and farming.
“This is because in the navy, we give our personnel the chance and the opportunity to always upgrade themselves while in service.
“We always make sure that our personnel deserve the best after they retire and have the right useful knowledge when they go back to civilian life,” he said.
Kamarulzaman pointed out that the navy always takes care of the welfare of its personnel.
“We have a saying in the navy that we will take care of our own people from the ‘cradle to the grave’ and we will do so and we will never let our veterans, who served in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, be left on their own,” he said.
He also encouraged veterans to allow their children and relatives to join the navy.
“We are establishing a navy base in Sarawak and we need people to safeguard our sovereignty and we will have more assets and by having this, the navy can give young people many more opportunities in having a respected job in the state and to have a very good career and future and bright prospects,” he added.