SIBU: The armed forces regiments in Sabah and Sarawak are being strengthened to enable them to conduct joint operations especially along the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
“We want the two regions to have joint operations where the military and the air force come together to conduct simultaneous operations,” Deputy Defence Minister Liew Chin Tong told reporters after visiting the 31st Infantry Brigade camp here, yesterday.
He said according to the Defence White Paper there was a need to strengthen the armed forces in the two states.
There are four infantry camps in Sarawak and one in Sabah. Another five are in West Malaysia.
Liew said joint efforts of the infantry units of both states would enable them to face whatever challenges that cross their paths.
On the 31st Infantry Brigade camp, he said as it is renting Junaco Park as its base the ministry could not upgrade the facility.
“We are renting Junaco Park, a private property. We can upgrade the other camps because they belong to us,” he said.
The camp was established in 2015. It currently has 400 soldiers led by its commander Datuk Johnny Lim Eng Seng.
On his three-day visit to the three camps here which also included Rascom and Oya camps, he emphasised that it was to boost the morale of the soldiers.
“While I am visiting camps in Sarawak, Defence Minister Mat Sabu will be visiting those in Sabah,” he said.
Accompanying Liew during the visit were First Division commander Major General Datuk Md Din, Lanang MP Alice Lau and Bukit Assek assemblywoman Irene Chang.
