KUALA LUMPUR: It has been a very challenging first 100 days in office, admitted Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.
"Not a single day passed by easily.
"The ministry's and armed forces staff who are willing to work beyond hours, sacrificed their family time and steadfastly face any threats.
"You are industrious, resilient and strong willed to carry out your mandated tasks," he said when addressing them at the 'Armed Forces 100 Days Aspiration' at the Sungai Besi camp.
Hishammuddin said the event had deep value and meaning for him as he returned for his second tenure in the ministry.
"I admit that these three months were very challenging, demanded focus, and undivided commitment and diligence to defend the country's sovereignty, staff and veterans' welfare as well as containing the Covid-19 pandemic," he said.
He recalled reporting for his first day on Sept 1, where after taking his salute he immediately held discussions, thought of plans and goals to be achieved in the first 100 days.
"Together with the top leadership of my ministry and the armed forces, we put forth 15 initiatives under six aspirations for those 100 days.
"The aspirations cover combating Covid-19, securing the country's borders, enhancing international cooperation, providing adequate staff housing, veterans' welfare and fulfilling social welfare programmes," he said.
Hishammuddin said he was proud to stand before them once more, with a sentimental feeling to announce that 'all key performance indicators' had been fulfilled and achieved successfully.
He also applauded the Combat Medic Vaccination Team to the Sabah and Sarawak interiors which vaccinated 25,092 residents; the two-month Drive Through Vaccination programme that got 14,097 youths jabbed; Operasi Benteng that nabbed 17,023 illegal immigrants; the field hospitals that treated thousands of Covid-19 patients; 107 jiwa murni projects; 21 mercy flights by the Royal Malaysian Air Force; and 2,000 Armed Forces family homes in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur.
He added that plans were underway to build 28,033 more such family homes nationwide by 2030, including 8,852 units under the 12th Malaysia Plan.
"We also distributed 25,600 food baskets to veterans; enhanced defence diplomacy during the 11th Five Power Defence Arrangement Defence Minister's Meeting; Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting, and the Manama Dialogue.
"So too are my bilateral communications with my counterparts in Brunei, Australia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, Cambodiaa, the Philippines, United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia and France," Hishammuddin said.
He pointed out that his ministry was large, overseeing 120,000 permanent soldiers, 51,000 reservists, 10,500 civillians, 270,000 children of personnel, 204,020 registered veterans, 38 schools and five military hospitals apart from safeguarding 30 million citizens.
All these, he said, were contained in the various defence industry and strategic development plans, including the Army's '4NextG'; Royal Malaysian Navy's '15 to 5' and the RMAF's 'Cap 55'.