KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is on track to fulfil its set milestones this year, with several already achieved in the first quarter alone, says Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

       The Defence Minister said that several goals the ministry had set up for the year had been achieved in April.

       “Under our housing agenda, 305 units under the Rumah Keluarga Malaysia Angkatan Tentera programme have been built in camp Segamat, with 204 in Pakit and 20 at Camp Oran. That means out of the seven projects involving 1,081 houses, three have been completed in this first quarter alone.

       “For our welfare agenda, I have announced in my 2022 mandate that we will strive to improve the dividend rate of the Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera. Back on March 6, the Prime Minister announced that the dividend for 2021 is at 4.1%, the highest since 2019,” he said in his speech.

       Hishammuddin, who is also Senior Minister (Security), was giving out achievement Defence Ministry awards at a hotel here on Wednesday (April 13).

       “Whenever asked who are the heroes that I look up to, my answers have never changed and that is the heroes are the people of Mindef and the Armed Forces. Be it those still serving, have retired or those that have already left us, they are all heroes of our country.

       “The truth is that teamwork is at the heart of every great achievement, and success is best when it’s shared.”

       A total of 381 people received awards for excellence, including 291 members from the civilian workforce.