Goodies for the brave ones
RM1.5mil donated to prepare gifts for soldiers on duty
KUALA LUMPUR: Around RM1.57mil was donated to the armed forces for the preparation and distribution of Hari Raya goodies for its personnel on duty during the celebration.
Along with the cash, some of the 51 sponsors comprising mainly corporate firms also contributed food and other items.
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, who received the donations at the ministry headquarters in Jalan Padang Tembak yesterday, thanked all the sponsors.
“Our brave men and women are sacrificing their time away from their loved ones during Hari Raya to make sure we are safe.
“I am proud of this annual tradition of sending them festive goodies as it shows how caring Malaysians are to our soldiers,” he said in a speech during the ceremony.
Mohamad also thanked welfare organisations within the armed forces such as Malaysian Armed Forces Family Welfare Association, which also helped in the preparation of the goodies.
“We have prepared 15,000 goodie bags to be given to our personnel on duty during this Hari Raya,” he said.
Earlier, Bernama reported that British Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson paid a courtesy call on Mohamad at Mindef.
Williamson was welcomed by a guard-ofhonour mounted by 108 officers and men of
the Royal Malay Regiment, led by Mejar Mohd Izhan Ahmad Rashidi.
His visit was aimed at, among others, strengthening ties between the two countries, as well as exchanging and sharing views and information.
Also present were Defence Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, army chief Jen Tan Sri Zulkiple Kassim, navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin and air force chief Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang.