The Putra-Perhebat Entrepreneurship Programme launched last March is able to improve the socio-economic status of Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans, said Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari.
He said that the programme, implemented by the Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), was specifically designed for ATM retirees and veterans based on structured training and guidance in agriculture and livestock breeding.
According to him, the programme helps the target group make the leap to a second career in addition to supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen the country's food security.
“It is in line with the goal of the Defence White Paper to improve the socio-economic status of veterans through training programmes and second career opportunities,” he told a press conference after visiting the Putra-Perhebat Entrepreneurship programme site at the Putra Agricultural Centre, UPM Serdang today.
Adly said the programme is available to ATM retirees and ATM veterans.
He said that retirees who participated in the programme were required to undergo three to five months of industry training.
“The programme is also open to veterans who wish to pursue a career in group farming by working at UPM Serdang’s agricultural sites,” he said.
Meanwhile, Adly said the full report on the incident where a hand grenade exploded during a training exercise at the Syed Sirajuddin camp in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, last month, was expected to be ready next week after the Malaysian Armed Forces Council meeting.
“Usually, after the meeting, the ATM will submit a detailed report about the incident. We will inform the victims’ families and follow the same process in terms of paying compensation and so on,” he said.
The incident on June 25 caused the deaths of two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) personnel.
Air Force trainee Lt Mohd Iqmal Masdi, 22, died on the spot at 12.10pm, while Corporal Mohd Syuib Bidin, 33, a trainer, succumbed to his injuries at the Segamat Hospital around 5.45 pm.
Source: BERNAMA News Agency