KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 2- Contributions from public and private sectors to the Malaysian Armed Forces for the Aidilfitri festival will help improve the morale of servicemen, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.
He said to date, the armed forces had received RM1.72 million cash and goods worth RM580,000 from 60 government-linked and private companies and the Association of Wives of Ministers and Deputy Ministers (Bakti).
“A total of 20,000 hari raya packages will be distributed to members of the armed forces this year, including 5,000 packages to those serving in the Special Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom),” he said at the handing over of the packages at the Defence Ministry here Thursday.
Present was Bakti president Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, who is also the prime minister’s wife and Bakti vice-president Puan Sri Norainee Abdul Rahman, who is also the deputy prime minister’s wife.
Commending Bakti and the companies for their contributions, Hishammuddin said Bakti had a good track record in preparing hari raya cakes for armed forces personnel while the companies’ generosity was much appreciated.
In her speech, Rosmah said Bakti also contributed RM5,000 each to the families of six soldiers, who were injured during ‘Op Daulat’ in Lahad Datu, to help them prepare for Aidilfitri.
“The sacrifices of members of the armed forces cannot be equated with this meagre contribution. But please treat this as an appreciation to their contribution in defending the country,” she added.
At the function, Tabung Zakat Angkatan Tentera received tithe payments amounting to RM3.1 million. They were RM1.4 million from Koperasi Tentera, Affin Islamic Bank Berhad (RM700,000), Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) (RM500,000) and Affin Investment (RM500,000).
In a separate event, Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin handed out hari raya aid to the six injured soldiers from Tabung Kebajikan Angkatan Tentera.
The six were Corporal Khairul Anuar Md Isa, Corporal Wan Mohd Fakuiddin Wan Jaafar, Corporal Mohd Rodzi Ibrahim, Lance Corporal Firdaus Ismail Lim, Corporal Mohd Affendi Yusoh and Tpr Mohd Shukri Md Kadir.
– BERNAMA
