RKMAT Bukit Jalil: Mindef's 100-day Malaysian Family Aspiration achievement - Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR: The launching of Rumah Keluarga Malaysia Angkatan Tentera (RKMAT) homes at Taman LTAT Bukit Jalil last month was the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF) efforts in materialising its 100-day Malaysian Family Aspiration, said its Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

Hishammuddin said as long as he holds the Defence Minister portfolio, he would ensure that the welfare of military personnel including in terms of housing, was protected.

"I will not compromise with it (housing for military personnel) because it can be directly felt and seen by those who are assisted.

"For instance, a serviceman who works in Bukit Jalil rents a room for RM900 a month but he only receives RM350 in housing allowance (monthly). Therefore, the ministry built the new houses (RKMAT Bukit Jalil) to ensure that they (military personnel) can live comfortably," he said when appearing as a guest on RTM's Selamat Pagi Malaysia programme today.

Hishammuddin said the launching of the RKMAT also proved that the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) and the ministry had successfully implemented the initiative and it was not just on paper.

The launching of 2,000 units of RKMAT Bukit Jalil on Nov 3 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob had also fulfilled 85 per cent of the needs of the military personnel in the Klang Valley.

Hishammuddin said his ministry also focused on safeguarding the welfare of MAF veterans who were facing difficulties following the COVID-19 pandemic.

"For the time being, we focus on those who are really in need, but when the situation returns to normal and the country's financial position comes back strongly, we will look into the welfare of MAF veterans as a whole," he said.

-- BERNAMA