KUALA LUMPUR: The perception that the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is only capable of carrying out its duties in the face of war situations or humanitarian activities in the country is not accurate.

This is evident by the ability of various MAF branches to show their true capabilities especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, the hard-to-see ‘enemy’ that is now plaguing the world.

Apart from working closely with the Royal Malaysian Police (RMP) and various government agencies, MAF successfully performed various tasks to change the perception of most of the country’s people.

Since the Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented until entering the MCO Rehabilitation phase, the MAF also ensured success in Op Benteng to ensure that the border areas of the country, whether on land or sea, were not encroached upon.

The MAF Chief of Defence Forces, General Tan Sri Affendi Buang, said apart from blocking the entry of illegal immigrants (PATI) to avoid the threat of COVID-19 from neighboring countries, the MAF also blocked drug smuggling activities and smuggling of controlled goods.

“The presence of MAF has a high impact on effectiveness when MCOs are implemented throughout the country as well as helping the government deal with the situation from getting worse.”

“Assignments in various fields when MCO received positive input and views from the community,” he said in a Special Media Interview with the Commander of the Armed Forces, in conjunction with the 87th Malaysian Armed Forces Day, today.

Affendi said the surveillance and monitoring carried out included border areas in Kelantan, Perak, Kedah and Perlis, waters and coastal areas as well as the border areas of Malaysia and Kalimantan.

“During these assignments, the MAF team was able to curb the smuggling attempt on subsidized daily items which if not addressed, would cause losses to the country and the amount detected would occur in the north of the country.

“Smuggling tactics and activities to bring in and out of illegal immigrants using small boats can be broken when we move the drone system and close monitoring and this task requires high observation to prevent any intrusion into the country,” he said.

He said, the information received is shared with the relevant security agencies so as to produce satisfactory results, thus ensuring that the national defense fort is difficult to penetrate from any unhealthy elements.

Asked about the MAF’s action to install barbed wire fences in the area of ​​Tightened Movement Control Order nationwide, Affendi said the action should be seen as support in ensuring that the COVID-19 epidemic does not spread and could endanger the lives of the community

“Our goal is to ensure that any individual in the ​​Tightened Movement Control Order area can be controlled, we have assets and we use them, not to show that we are firm in the military but rather for the safety of our own people.

He said, based on the feedback received, the MAF can now be proud because the people of this country give full support to any measures and actions for the safety of the community in this country.

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KUALA LUMPUR: Persepsi bahawa Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) hanya berkeupayaan melaksanakan penugasan ketika berhadapan situasi peperangan mahupun aktiviti kemanusiaan di negara ini ternyata tidak tepat.

Ini dibuktikan dengan keupayaan pelbagai cabang ATM yang menunjukkan kemampuan sebenar mereka khususnya ketika menghadapi pandemik COVID-19, ‘musuh’ sukar dilihat yang kini melanda dunia.

Selain bekerjasama rapat dengan Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dan pelbagai agensi kerajaan, ATM melaksanakan pelbagai tugas dengan jayanya sehingga mengubah persepsi sebahagian besar masyarakat negara ini.

Sejak Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan (PKP) dilaksanakan sehinggalah memasuki fasa PKP Pemulihan, ATM turut memastikan kejayaan dalam Op Benteng demi memastikan kawasan sempadan tanah air sama ada di darat mahupun laut tidak dicerobohi.

Panglima ATM, Jeneral Tan Sri Affendi Buang, berkata selain tindakan menyekat kemasukan pendatang asing tanpa izin (PATI) bagi menghindari ancaman COVID-19 dari negara jiran, ATM turut menyekat aktiviti penyeludupan dadah serta penyeludupan barang kawalan bersubsidi.

“Kehadiran ATM memberikan impak yang tinggi terhadap keberkesanan ketika PKP dilaksanakan di seluruh negara serta membantu kerajaan menangani situasi daripada menjadi lebih buruk.

“Penugasan dalam pelbagai bidang ketika PKP memberikan input dan pandangan yang positif daripada masyarakat,” katanya dalam Wawancara Khas Media bersama Panglima Angkatan Tentera, sempena Hari Angkatan Tentera Malaysia ke-87, hari ini.

Affendi berkata pengawasan dan pemantauan yang dijalankan merangkumi kawasan sempadan di Kelantan, Perak, Kedah dan Perlis, kawasan perairan dan pesisir pantai serta kawasan sempadan Malaysia dan Kalimantan.

“Ketika penugasan ini pasukan ATM dapat mengekang cubaan penyeludupan barangan kegunaan harian bersubsidi yang sekiranya tidak ditangani akan menyebabkan kerugian kepada negara dan jumlahnya banyak dikesan berlaku di utara tanah air.

“Taktik penyeludupan dan aktiviti membawa masuk dan keluar PATI menggunakan bot kecil dapat dipatahkan apabila kita menggerakkan sistem dron dan pemantauan dari jarak dekat dan tugas ini memerlukan pemerhatian yang tinggi bagi mengelak sebarang pencerobohan ke dalam negara,” katanya.

Katanya, maklumat diterima dikongsi bersama dengan agensi keselamatan berkaitan sehingga membuahkan hasil yang memuaskan, sekali gus memastikan benteng pertahanan negara sukar ditembusi daripada sebarang anasir tidak sihat.

Ditanya mengenai tindakan ATM memasang pagar kawad duri di kawasan Perintah Kawalan Pergerakan Diperketatkan (PKPD) di seluruh negara, Affendi berkata tindakan itu harus dilihat sebagai sokongan dalam memastikan wabak COVID-19 tidak menular seterusnya boleh merisikokan nyawa masyarakat

“Tujuan kita adalah untuk memastikan mana-mana individu dalam kawasan PKPD dapat dikawal, kita ada aset dan kita gunakannya, bukan untuk tunjuk kita bersikap ketenteraan yang tegas tetapi sebaliknya untuk keselamatan rakyat kita sendiri.

“Ini kerana kita tidak mahu sekiranya dia terlepas dia boleh menjadi ancaman kepada orang lain sehingga sukar untuk kita mengesannya kembali,” katanya.

Katanya, berdasarkan maklum balas yang diterima, ATM kini boleh berbangga kerana rakyat negara ini memberikan sokongan penuh terhadap sebarang langkah dan tindakan demi kemakmuran masyarakat di negara ini.