KUANTAN: The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) is committed to maintaining a competitive dividend payout, subject to investment returns and the performance of its portfolio companies.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin (pic) said the board has maintained a dividend rate of at least 5% over the past two to three years, demonstrating its resilience in navigating market challenges.
Commenting on the target of achieving a 6% dividend, he stressed that LTAT’s management would strive to meet the projection, provided its investment companies deliver a strong performance.
“The dividends depend on LTAT’s investment returns. I have asked them to intensify their efforts.
“If LTAT’s income is high, there is no reason not to provide higher dividends,” he told reporters at the closing ceremony of the East Coast edition of Jelajah Wira LTAT at the Kuantan Air Base yesterday, Bernama reported.
On the Future Force (Angkatan Masa Hadapan), he said the focus is on developing a force that is better trained, knowledgeable, competent and able to leverage modern technological applications.
“In addressing existing challenges, each service cannot operate in isolation. Plans that are made must be based on integration among the three services – the Army, the Royal Malaysian Navy and the Royal Malaysian Air Force,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled added that the Malaysian Armed Forces, with a current strength of about 110,000 personnel, would continue its annual recruitment to achieve the targeted optimal force size.
