PHOTO: MOHD ALIF NONI
KOTA SAMARAHAN: About 97,015 veterans and personnel of Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) including their family will get the great benefit from the Army Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (PERHEBAT)-Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) Satellite Campus.
Chief Minister, Datuk Patinggi (Dr) Abang Johari Tun Openg said in his speech that the initiative of the establishment of the PERHEBAT-UNIMAS Satellite Campus is one of the strategic partnerships seen as a catalyst for Sarawak’s economic development.
“Until end of 2017, Sarawak has around 17,000 ATM veterans who can contribute significant impacts if they get further training in career development and entrepreneurship,” he said.
He said this in his speech read by Minister of Education, Science and Technological Research, Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong during the launching of PERHEBAT- UNIMAS Satellite Campus at UNIMAS yesterday.
He also said that veterans of the armed force the exposure to entrepreneurial career opportunities may be a new thing.
“But as an ATM veteran, they have several key attributes to become successful entrepreneurs who have been applied throughout the course of carrying out their duties as ATM members.
“Among these attributes are discipline, physical and mental resilience, teamwork and high-spirited skills,” he added.
He pointed out by organising the Veterans Socio-Economic Development Programme (PPSEV), courses under the PERHEBAT-UNIMAS Satellite Campus will be complementary to produce more entrepreneurs among ATM veterans.
“However, the impact and success of this training program also depends on the expertise of the instructors and the determination of veterans in understanding and practicing entrepreneurial knowledge and skills learned.
“Our ATM veterans especially those in Sarawak are priceless assets.
“The experience of undergoing extreme physical and discipline training gives added value to our veterans to be a human capital to society, especially in developing the economic sector in Sarawak,” he said.
Meanwhile, also speaking Chairman of PERHEBAT Lt. Gen. Dato’ Sri Abdul Aziz Ibrahim said that UNIMAS is the first satellite campus established in Sarawak especially for the ATM, the veterans and their family.
“The Satellite Campus will also act as a One Stop Centre for the management of training programme to army veterans in the state.
“This Satellite Campus offers Lifelong Learning Programmes to ATM veterans in Sarawak for socioeconomic upgrades through training programs offered and can also produce more skilled and competitive entrepreneurs globally,” he added.
Also present was UNIMAS Vice-Chancellor Professor, Datuk Dr Mohamad Kadim Suaidi.
