KUALA LUMPUR: Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has assured that the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) Retirement Fund will be fully guaranteed by the government.

       In principle, he said, the Cabinet had given their approval last week to the proposed amendment to the Armed Forces Fund Act, guaranteeing the retirement fund.

       “The next step, it will be brought to Parliament for the amendment this year,” he said, adding that he would pay full attention to this proposed amendment until it was passed and implemented.

       “This is my guarantee... when this amendment is implemented, it will preserve the retirement fund and enable LTAT to continue to drive its transformation agenda.”

       In his New Year 2022 message for the Defence Ministry at Wisma Perwira ATM yesterday, Hishammuddin said the LTAT leadership should continue their investment efforts to meet the current needs, best practices and provide stable, competitive and sustainable returns like other retirement institutions.

       Hishammuddin also said that under the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plan, some 12,000 Rumah Keluarga Malaysia Angkatan Tentera (RKMAT) would be built.

       “This year, seven RKMAT projects will be completed at Tok Jalai in Kedah, Kem Oren in Perlis, Kem Tumbi in Kelantan, Segamat, Kem Pakit and Kem Miri at Sarawak and Kem Bera at Pahang.”

       He said that more houses would be constructed under the Program Satu Anggota Satu Rumah.

       These houses will be constructed at Kem Transmitter in Sungai Besi, Kem Wardieburn, Setapak and Kem Genting Klang.

       “As for Armed Forces veterans, we have allocated RM2.59mil to maintain and build at least 100 houses through the Armed Forces Veterans Housing Initiative.”

       To strengthen the army’s capabilities, he said they had acquired seven Pendekar Tanks and 31 8x8 Armoured Gempita vehicles, which are to be delivered this month.

       “For the Royal Malaysia Navy, the Rencong Littoral Mission Ship (LMS), which is the country’s fourth LMS, will be commissioned on Jan 28. In addition, the government will acquire three AW 139 Maritime Operations helicopters in March and the RMN has started planning to acquire eight new LMS via the second batch.

       “The Malaysian Air Force will increase the Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) capability on three CN235-200 aircraft, increase the capability of F/A18D aircraft through the Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) and increase the capacity of Airbus A400M aircraft through Retrofit New SOC 2.5,” he said.

       He added that the government is looking into the procurement of Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) and MD530G helicopters for the army aviation wing.

       Welcoming Hishammuddin’s statement, the Armed Forces Fund Board said the proposed amendment was an important foundation to drive its transformation to strengthen its governance and improve its investment framework.

       “This new framework will guarantee sustainable and competitive returns to its contributors,” it said.

       Among the amendments, it added, were to allow contributors to withdraw part of their savings upon retirement with the balance eligible for dividends.