Khairy, Malacca CM conferred with Territorial Army ranks

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron were among five people conferred with senior volunteer's and honorary ranks in the Territorial Army, yesterday.

Khairy was conferred with the rank of colonel after undergoing a training stint for officers in the Territorial Army while Idris was made honorary brigadier-general at a ceremony officiated by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein here yesterday.

Sapura Holdings CEO Tan Sri Shahril Shamsuddin was conferred the rank of honorary brigadier-general, Kuala Lumpur mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Phesal Talib (honorary colonel) and Inland Revenue Board CEO Tan Sri Dr Mohd Shukor Mahfar (honorary colonel).

The five were granted the honorary ranks by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong recently.

Speaking to reporters, Hishammuddin said the Territorial Army, a second line of defence, had undergone many challenges and external threats over the years.

He hoped MORE youths would be inspired to join the Territorial Army with political and business leaders joining the ranks to help boost the organisation.

In another development, Hishammuddin said he would visit the Malaysian Battalion (Malbatt) 850-1 under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (Unifil) in mid July to see for himself its conditions and requirements, apart from giving moral support to Malbatt members, who were away from their families, especially during Ramadan.

"I'm scheduled to visit Malbatt members at Marakah, Tibnin and Simrock camps and break the Ramadan fast with them," he said.

The 850-strong Malbatt 850-1, which started their tour of duty in October last year, is joined by 26 soldiers from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces.