Give non-Malays more opportunities to join Armed Forces — Ex-Navy Association
SIBU: The government should encourage and give more opportunities to non- Malays to join the Armed Forces to share the responsibility of protecting the nation.
In stating this, Malaysia Royal Ex-Navy Association ( PBTLDM) Sarawak president Thomas Ling suggested that intakes be done depending on qualification and skills rather than based on Key Performance Index ( KPI) like what was done by the previous government.
“There are many Sarawak youths, particularly the Chinese, who are qualified academically but were ‘ blocked’ because of their failure in the KPI.
“We hope this will not be repeated in the coming recruitment drive of the Armed Forces,” he told a press conference at the association’s office here yesterday.
He also hoped that the intake of Sarawakians into the Navy would be increased to 25 per cent.
Citing the appointment of Senator Liew Chin Tong as the Deputy Defence Minister as a sign that the Pakatan Harapan government does not advocate policies of racial segregation, Ling hopes that the same attitude will be adopted in the recruitment of trainees into the Armed Forces.
“We hope this openness of the government will lead to the Chinese community removing their reservations about joining the Armed Forces.”
This year, Ling said, the response from the Chinese community towards joining the Navy has increased unlike in the past years.
“However, the increase is considered small,” he lamented.
According to Ling, PBTLDM has been assisting in the intake sessions for the Armed Forces, the National Defence University ( UPNM) and the Army Training College ( MTD) since 2010, not only in Sarawak but Peninsular Malaysia as well.
“Our association is always ready to assist in every recruitment session for the Army, UPNM and MTD,” he said.
Ling urged Sarawakians to seriously consider joining the Armed Forces.