KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will focus on three main thrusts in its development and management plans for Budget 2022 and the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP).

       Senior Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic) said the first thrust was ensuring the welfare of personnel, Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans as well as their family members.

       "We will focus on various aspects especially in terms of housing and health facilities," he told a press conference at the ministry on Monday (Sept 13).

       The ministry would also prioritise the country's security, Hishammuddin said.

       "In the Covid-19 era, the focus of the ministry and the ATM cannot solely be on physical defence but we must also strengthen our cyber defence.

       "Such focus on cyber defence is timely as the virtual platform is largely used for more than a year," he added.

       The third thrust for the ministry was maintaining the ATM's capabilities and readiness, Hishammuddin said.

       "I have received reports of various things needed by three branches of the ATM including those relating to new assets.

       "I understand such needs but we have taken into account the uncertain economic situation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, when planning to acquire new assets.

       "Our focus should be on maintaining existing assets," he said.

       Meanwhile, Hishammuddin also shared the ministry's current initiatives, which included housing projects for its personnel.

       "From the 30,033 'Rumah Keluarga Angkatan Tentera' (RKAT) units, which is expected to be fully finished in 2030, 5,769 units have been built while 1,509 units are in the midst of construction.

       "Besides that, 3,500 units of "rumah SASar" are currently being built at the Sungai Besi camp while 7,343 units will be built at the Genting Klang camp and Wardieburn camp," he said.

       Plans were also underway to upgrade five military hospitals and to build five new polyclinic, he added.

       "In terms of security, 21 new security posts have been built nationwide. The posts are two in Peninsular Malaysia, five in Sabah and 12 in Sarawak.

       "Such efforts are important in strengthening ATM's efforts to defend the country's borders," he said.