TANJUNG MALIM: The Defence Ministry will provide 100 places for Public University Reserve Officer Training Unit (Palapes) members to join the Malaysian Armed Forces beginning next year.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the best and most worthy 100 would be chosen annually under a "special path".
He said the ministry would also consider absorbing part of the 100 chosen Palapese members' National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) loans.
“Each year the Armed Forces recruit 5,000 personnel, of which 500 are officers with skills from the various other academies, or fresh graduates,” he told a press conference after an executive lecture with public university Palapes personnel here on Thursday (Sept 5).
The inaugural talk organised by the ministry was held at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris.
Khaled said there were currently 2,600 Palapes members across 20 public universities nationwide.
He also said the ministry spent RM40mil a year on Palapes training at all the universities combined.
“Palapes can fulfil the needs of the Armed Forces, and the students who join the uniformed body are not only able to meet the needs of the nation, but are quality citizens with values, a love for the nation, and discipline.
“This sort of recruitment will help the efforts of the Armed Forces in facing future, non-traditional challenges such as cyber threats.
“We need personnel and officers of various backgrounds, with a range of knowledge and skills,” he added.
Khaled said each year, the 100 would be picked according to the specific requirements of the time.
He also hoped that those in Palapes and those who wished to join do so out of patriotism and love for the country, and not just to satisfy their co-curriculum criteria.
“Members of Palapes are valuable in any other workforce, not just the Armed Forces.
“They are loyal, honest, have integrity after undergoing three years of military training, and will definitely bring added value to employers,” he said.
