KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry has achieved all of its key performance indicators (KPIs), including its efforts to combat Covid-19, in the 100 days since Sept 1, says its minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic).
He said the KPIs involving all 15 initiatives outlined under six aspirations – combating Covid-19, safeguarding the country’s borders, maintaining international relations, fulfilling housing needs, ensuring the welfare of Armed Forces veterans and the Jiwa Murni programme – were successfully executed throughout the 100-day period from Sept 1 until Dec 9.
“This period of three months was quite challenging, but the ministry staff and the Armed Forces members were deeply committed to achieving their targets.
“The efforts of all involved were crucial in assisting the government, especially in combating Covid-19,” he said in his speech to mark his first 100 days as Defence Minister during a ceremony at Kem Perdana Sungai Besi yesterday.
Hishammuddin said the military’s Combat Medic Vaccination Team was instrumental in ensuring that the population in rural areas was vaccinated against Covid-19.
A total of 25,092 people were successfully vaccinated, especially in Sabah and Sarawak.
“At the same time, 14,097 teenagers were fully vaccinated through the immunisation programme.
“Field hospitals set up in various parts of the country have also been a great help to the Health Ministry in treating Covid-19 patients,” Hishammuddin added.
A total of 107 Jiwa Murni projects were conducted by the Engineering Regiment while the Royal Malaysian Air Force conducted 21 flights to bring in medical supplies to treat Covid-19 patients especially in Sabah and Sarawak, he said.
On housing, Hishammuddin said the ministry aimed to provide at least 2,000 units of new houses within the first 100 days of the current administration and this was fulfilled through the launching of 2,000 units of Rumah Keluarga Malaysia Angkatan Tentera (RKMAT) in Bukit Jalil by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Nov 3.
“Plans are also underway to build 28,033 RKMAT units for the period of 2021-2030, including the 8,852 units announced in the 12th Malaysian Plan,” he said.
On the defence front, he said various operations under Ops Benteng have been conducted, of which 17,023 undocumented immigrants were detained as at Dec 7.
On strengthening defence diplomacy, Hishammuddin said various conferences and meetings were held, including the 11th Five Power Defence Agreements (FPDA) Defence Ministers’ Meeting and the Asean Defence Ministers’ Meeting.
He added that the inability to travel overseas during the pandemic was no barrier as most of the meetings were conducted virtually.
He also said that he kept in constant communications with his counterparts from various countries, including the United States, Britain, Brunei, Australia and France.
Hishammuddin said despite the ministry’s achievements, efforts will be carried out to improve its work.
“The Defence Ministry is a huge ministry. It has 120,000 permanent staff, 51,000 reserve personnel and 10,500 civilian personnel,” he said, adding that the ministry will commence on its post-100 day plans today.
“I will study what policies or initiatives can be done for next year,” he added.
Hishammuddin said the 100-day achievements could not be used as a benchmark for the ministry’s excellence as a whole but could serve as a catalyst for initiatives which span more than 100 days.
“I am confident that with careful planning, high level of discipline and organised structure, we can do this and I assure you that as long as I am the Defence Minister, I will be with the ministry and the Malaysian Armed Forces every step of the way in our struggle,” he added.