By Colonel Sebastian A. William – May 6, 2020 @ 12:10am NST

AS is the case with the Movement Control Order (MCO) enforcement, the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) are supporting elements to the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) personnel in designated areas. In fact, every MAF personnel has to report to the police station nearest to his assigned post, and receives a detailed briefing from the RMP officer in charge.

MAF personnel do not have the authority to arrest wrongdoers but must refer him or her to his RMP counterpart. The MAF’s role is clear — to augment the RMP in beefing up the strength of the personnel required to man some 2,000 checkpoints nationwide while still carrying out its primary tasks in defending the nation.

As for MAF’s Medical Corps’ involvement in treating Covid-19 patients, the same rule applies. They serve as “wingmen” to the Health Ministry in providing screening facilities and, where necessary, admission of low-threat cases. While government hospitals and doctors treat high-risk patients in designated Covid-19 treatment facilities, MAF’s specialists and personnel man screening facilities as requested by the ministry.

At present, Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan Hospital receives non-Covid-19 patients from other government hospitals to allow the Health Ministry’s elements to concentrate on combating the pandemic. Medical Corp personnel are deployed at airports and border checkpoints, screening those coming into the country. At the Simpang Renggam Enhanced MCO locations, MAF medical staff have relieved Health Ministry personnel at community clinics to look after minor ailments, enabling doctors and nurses to be channelled to Covid-19 treatment facilities.

The latest development involving the Medical Corps is its deployment to establish and man the MAEPS Temporary Treatment Facility in Serdang due to the acute shortage of medical staff. No doubt though, should it be needed to step up, the Medical Corp and its entire range of specialists, from dentists to gynaecologists, is ever ready to stand alongside their civilian counterparts.

It is understandable that the public’s opinion on the utilisation of the MAF to augment MCO tasks started off under a cloud of negativity. However, six weeks into it, the MAF has proven itself as a worthy frontliner alongside its RMP counterpart in ensuring that the measures put in place by the government are adhered to and are kept in check by the relevant parties. Public perception and confidence have improved. While certain parties continue to sing the “Askar Makan Tidur” song, the military never rests. Even in times of peace, a soldier is kept on his toes with constant drills and training.

When the Covid-19 pandemic happened, the MAF saw an opportunity to put its troops into one of its least exercised roles, the Preservation of Public Order (POPO), designed to assist local enforcement authorities in ensuring that civil unrest is kept at bay or managed properly. MAF also trains with the RMP in conducting POPO exercises periodically, under the ambit of the Whole of Government (WoG) initiative, which was brought into prominence by the recent Defence White Paper. It is this WoG approach that is in play during the MCO at the moment, and it has been proven to be effective.

The issue of a soldier’s life being put in harm’s way by being involved in Covid-19 pandemic-related tasks should never arise. All military operations are conducted after detailed planning and a thorough risk assessment is done, and action taken after all the risks have been factored in and deemed acceptable. A soldier never asks if jumping from an airplane is going to result in a broken ankle. He just jumps, trusting in his training and skills. Similarly, a soldier embarking on MCO duties will take every possible precaution to ensure that his life is not put in danger through his own negligence. His superior officers, too, will make sure that his men are mentally and physically ready for the task at hand. Nothing is left to chance.

In conclusion, the MAF’s involvement in assisting the RMP and Health Ministry is just another arrow in its quiver that it has been entrusted with throughout its 87-year existence. The MAF knows exactly where, what, when, who and how every task is to be conducted and it also knows the importance of working closely with other government entities in ensuring that the interests of the people always remains paramount.

The MAF will remain professional in its conduct of operations and tasks, whatever, whenever and wherever that may be. God willing, Malaysia will emerge stronger than ever. All it needs is a concerted effort by all parties involved and a little bit of divine help to push us in the right direction. This may be our finest hour yet.

The writer is Directing Staff (Air Force), Malaysian Armed Forces Defence College, National Centre for Defence Studies, Putrajaya