M'sian army under UN ready to face threat of nuclear, chemical, biological weapons

The Malaysian Army currently has a team known as the Standby Army Battalion to be assigned under the United Nations (UN) mission against any threat of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons said Army chief General Datuk Seri Zulkiple Kassim.

He said the team possessed the skills and equipment to operate in an environment contaminated by radioactive and so on.

"Recently, we had prepared this team to serve under the UN mission. A group of the UN representatives came here to inspect our equipment and readiness to serve and they were satisfied, especially our vehicles and equipment that are able to operate in a highly contaminated atmosphere.

"We have the ability to face the threat of nuclear, biological, and chemical weapon and apart from the team being accepted by the UN it is also qualified to serve abroad," he told reporters after attending a parade and delivering his message in conjunction with the army's 83rd anniversary at the Army Basic Training Centre (Pusasda) here Wednesday.

Also present were Army Deputy Chief Lt Gen Datuk Seri Panglima Ahmad Hasbullah Mohd Nawawi and Army Second Lieutenant, the Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah Ibni Sultan Sharafuddin Shah.

Meanwhile, after the parade, Zulkiple also launched MASt (Malaysian Army Standard) or army quality standard manual as a management tool to measure the capability of the management of army regiments and corps.

"First developed in June 2016, thus far we have developed 18 MASt and they are believed to be able to help enhance the quality in the army towards excellence in terms of better management, integrity, transparency and being innovative.

In his message, he also said that the army was in the process of establishing new army camps to create a more conducive working environment and to improve morale and productivity of army personnel when discharging their duties.

The parade yesterday involved 158 officers and 3,629 personnel of various ranks and led by Third Infantry Division Commander Mej Gen Datuk Hasagaya Abdullah. - Bernama