The Ministry of Defence plans to recruit 43,000 more Territorial Army (TA) volunteers to increase the number to 100,000 within the next five years.
Its minister, Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said this was in line with efforts to create a ratio of one TA volunteer to one member of the armed forces from one TA volunteer to two members of the armed forces at present.
“The participation of the TA will strengthen the second line of defence as the armed forces currently has 95,000 members. This is not a national service but to inculcate the spirit of defence.
“So far, we have TA units in 172 parliamentary constituencies. We want to set up TA units in the remaining 50 constituencies,” he told reporters after launching the third and fourth TA units in the Ministry of Defence and the Cyber Media TA Platoon.
The cyber media platoon unit, which is made up of 15 journalists and media practitioners from the Klang Valley, will be extended nationwide, he said, adding that during emergency, the media not only had to cover the situation but also could play its role in psychological warfare.
Meanwhile, Bernama journalist, Nurqalby Mohd Reda, 28, who is a member of the cyber media platoon, said the TA inculcated the spirit of adventure as she experienced the life of a soldier.
– Bernama
CJMY
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