Financial restraint does not affect security — Defence Forces Chief
KUANTAN: Chief of Defence Forces General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor yesterday gave an assurance that military operations as well as the security aspects and national sovereignty are not affected by the financial constraints.
He said the financial constraint should not be seen as a ‘death warrant’, on the contrary, it needed wisdom to carry out a prudent approach and readjustment to suit the current situation.
“We need to optimise the available funds by using the best financil approach to avoid wastage and to reduce unnecessary expenditure. But this does not mean that it is the end of everything because we will never compromise on matters concerning capacity operations just because of financial constraints,” he said.
Raja Mohamed Affandi disclosed this at the media conference after attending the Parade On the First Message of Command by the 19th Chief of Defence Forces at the Royal Malaysian Air Force (TUDM) Base, here yesterday.
Also present were Air Force Chief, General Datuk Seri Affendi Buang, Army Chief, General Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim and Navy Chief, Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin.
Raja Mohamed Affandi also assured that the financial constraints would not affect welfare programmes of the security forces, wether involving the welfare of the military veterans or the ‘jiwa murni’ programmes. With rgard to the change in the United States (US) administration leadership with the appointment of President Donald Trump, Raja Mohamed Affandi said bilateral military relations between both countries were still at the same level, based on the terms that had been agreed upon.
He subsequently outlined four main thrusts as the driving force of the armed forces, namely unity and capability in cooperating as one entity, professional attitude to achieve excellence, to always be prepared for whatever eventuality, and to absorb noble values. — Bernama