Patriot questions Hisham’s plan for farms at military camps

 

National Patriots Association president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Arshad Raji asks whether soldiers will be burdened with extra duties in Hishammuddin Hussein’s farming plan.

PETALING JAYA: The National Patriots Association (Patriot) wants a detailed plan from defence minister Hishammuddin Hussein regarding his announcement on creating vegetable gardens at every military camp.

Its president, Brig-Gen (Rtd) Arshad Raji, raised questions regarding the involvement of the armed forces in the farming proposal.“We need to also ask to what extent our nation’s armed forces personnel will have to be involved in this new vocation.

“Will there be a section or a platoon of vegetable farmers formed at each camp? Will there be a special fund allocated by the minister for this purpose?” he asked in a statement.

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Yesterday, Hishammudin said the defence ministry aims to create vegetable gardens at every military camp throughout the country to ensure food security, especially for the needs of military personnel.

He said the Syed Sirajuddin Camp in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan, has been selected as a pioneer project.

Arshad said Hishammuddin’s idea presupposed soldiers would be burdened with the added responsibility of becoming vegetable farmers, in addition to their primary responsibility as soldiers.

While he acknowledged that food security is a pressing issue that ought to be tackled immediately, he said the plan would not work well with the armed forces leadership.

“This is because formations and units of the armed forces have their own regular training schedule that has to be fulfilled to ensure that its state of readiness is constantly at its peak.

“Turning soldiers to vegetable farmers will deprive them of essential military training,” he said. - FMT