Troops from the Ipoh-based 2nd Malaysian Infantry Brigade and the 25th Infantry Division of the US Army Pacific Command, helped build a multi-purpose building for a kindergarten, the Tadika Kemas Klebang Restu, in Tambun recently. They were participants of the annual bilateral exercise between the two nations known as Exercise Keris Strike, the 19th in the on-going series.
The joint field exercise was held in the general area of Taiping from Wednesday, September 9 to Tuesday, September 22.
It has been the dream of the pre-school’s authorities to have the building where a number of activities can be held for the benefit of the children. The project was shelved due to lack of funds until the offer by the brigade.
Construction works were done by army sappers from the Taiping-based 2nd Squadron Royal Malaysian Engineers. The finishing touch, however, was performed by the exercising troops of both nations.
Perak State Community Development (Kemas) Director, Kamal Idris thanked the soldiers for the assistance rendered.
“The building was completed in just 40 days ala “gotong royong,” said Major Faizal Fitri, the squadron commander.
Commander 2nd Infantry Brigade, Brig-Gen Mas’od bin Haji Muhammad and Task Force Bronco Commander, Col Scott W. Kelly handed over a replica of the building’s key to Kamal Idris in a ceremony held at the kindergarten’s premises on Saturday, September 19.
Present to witness the handing-over were the assemblyman for Manjoi, Haji Mohamad Ziad bin Dato’ Hj Mohamed Zainal Abidin and Zone A Klebang’s resident association member, Haji Mohd Khair Napiah.
Luqman
