PETALING JAYA: Maintaining morale among those on the frontlines against Covid-19 is key to preventing burnout, says Armed Forces chief Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang (pic).

       "Whether or not our soldiers suffer burnout is closely related to the understanding that this is our responsibility. One of the ways to prevent them from feeling that they are fighting a losing battle is to constantly reinforce and explain that this is a necessary duty.

       "As a frontliner, you can get affected easily and we try as much as we can to reduce their risks," he said during a Monday (Sept 13) interview with the media in conjunction with the 88th Armed Forces Day on Sept 16.

       He added that reminding those on the ground on the "wins" also helped keep them focused on the task at hand.

       As of now the Armed Forces has deployed 10,934 soldiers to enforce the movement control order via Ops Penawar, and for anti-illegal immigrant operations under Ops Benteng.

       Speaking on medical personnel and facilities, Jen Affendi said that field hospitals will be constructed and dissolved according to the specific needs of an area.

       "For example, in the Klang Valley, we have one each in Selayang and Klang. With cases on the downtrend there, they are not yet closed but we minimise the operations.

       "In Penang, on the other hand, they require a field hospital so our medical arm has been deployed there this week to construct one on the mainland. We are always ready," he said.

       Additional doctors have also been brought in on a contractual basis, to help bolster the medical arm of the Armed Forces in the fight against Covid-19.

       "There are times, and we have seen during this pandemic, where we are required to assist the Health Ministry and that is when things become tight. We need more doctors and what we have done is take in contract doctors and paramedics.

       "Medical staff, as frontliners, carry a heavy burden and we must ensure that they receive enough time to rest. At this point of time we are comfortable with the current manpower to face these added operations," he said, adding that around 250 Armed Forces medical personnel had been deployed.

       On Malaysia entering the endemic phase, Jen Affendi said that the Armed Forces will allocate resources as needed.

       "We work with the police who are the 'mission agency' and if it's needed we will supply," he said.

       Regarding the future of Ops Benteng, Jen Affendi hoped that even when the pandemic ends, the inter-agency cooperation would remain.

       "The main mission is to prevent the incursion of illegal immigrants but by doing so we have also stopped smugglers and such due to illegal activities around the borders. This success is not due to Ops Benteng, but the cooperation between the agencies which lead to big victories.

       "I hope that the government will take the same approach once the pandemic ends. It doesn't have to be the Armed Forces leading the operation but I hope that same collaboration will remain and improve on so that the nation's borders are protected," he said.