Army personnel told not to fall for fake news
MIRI: Members of the Armed Forces are advised to be wary of information they receive which could be false.
Armed Forces chief General Tan Sri Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor gave this advice at the handover of phase 1 military family home ( RKAT) in Sri Miri Camp of the 20th Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment ( 20th RAMD) here yesterday.
“No matter what our religious background is, I do not want any of us to be ‘ bankrupt’ (muflis). Each day we try to do good things but eventually all the good deeds are gone because of the negative things happening around us, including slander and distributing news without validating first.
“Every day we are exposed to the global cyberspace and when it comes to news, verify first before spreading it to avoid anything that may threaten public order.
“Slander is really dangerous and dissemination of fake news will cause chaos and backfire,” he stressed.
Affandi also called on the army personnel to look after the infrastructure that had been provided as well as maintain and strengthen unity among them.
“I urge everyone to look after whatever that is prepared for you as it will be inherited for the future and the army shall never break apart as what we do is the proof of our loyalty to the king and nation,” he said.
The construction of phase 1 of Sri Miri Camp RKAT complex started on April 7, 2015 and was completed on March 3 last year. It involved the construction of Block C, E, F and G that can accommodate 139 families.
The RM55.89-million project is part of the armed forces’ four phase RKAT blueprint to build more than 40,000 houses for the military (in stages) from 2015 until 2030 throughout the nation.
Corporal Mohd Hafiz Haiqal and his wife Siti Alimah Mohd Idris, when met, said they were thankful for the new house.
“Previously we stayed at the wooden block and the condition was not that good.
“Though we had to wait for more than a year, it is worth the wait, and the new house is also fully furnished,” said Mohd Hafiz who has been at the camp for six years.
The ceremony was attended by some 2,000 army personnel from the 9th Infantry Brigade, 31st Infantry Brigade, Territorial Army, veterans and members of Armed Forces Wives Association (Bakat).
Also present were Ministry of Defence secretary general Datuk Seri Abdul Rahim Mohamad Radzi, Eastern Field Command ( EFC) commander Lt Gen Datuk Mohd Zaki Mokhtar, Air Operation commander Lt Gen Datuk Seri Abdul Mutalib Datuk Ab Wahab and First Division Infantry commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw.