The 81st Army Day Celebration in Perak was held at Kem Syed Putra along Jalan Tambun on Saturday, March 1. The celebration, organised in true military fashion preceded with a parade held at the Second Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment parade grounds. It was attended mainly by personnel from the Ipoh-based Second Infantry Brigade.
The parade, consisting of 12 Officers and 159 Other Ranks, was commanded by Lt-Col Khairuddin bin Aksah from Regiment 503 (Territorial Army). He was assisted by Maj Alif Nor bin Azmi of the Second Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment.
The national-level celebration was held on the same morning at the Army Basic Training Centre (PUSASDA) in Port Dickson. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Tentera Darat Teguh Siaga, ATM Gagah Perkasa” loosely translated as “Army Resilient and Ready; the Armed Forces Invincible”.
Speech by the Chief of the Malaysian Army, Gen Datuk Raja Mohamed Affandi bin Raja Mohamed Noor was delivered by Lt-Col Ahmad @ Ahmad Zaisal bin Abdul Rashid who represented Commander 2 Brigade, Brig-Gen Dato’ Md Dzahir bin Abd Rashid. Col Ahmad took the salute and addressed those present on the auspicious day.
The army, said Gen Datuk Raja Mohamed Affandi, would strive to improve the working environment of its personnel, their quality of life and the improvement of housing for them and their families. He reminded soldiers to work for the force and not to seek personal glory, saying, “We’re a family. We fight, we live and we survive together.”
Emily Lowe
