KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 (Bernama) — Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the Malaysian armed forces were always ready to be deployed for high availability disaster recovery (HADR) and the World Food Programme (WFP) in any country.

“We have the expertise and commitment to participate in international humanitarian aid missions,” he told reporters after presenting degrees to 40 students of the Masters Programme of Social Science in Defence Studies of the Armed Forces Defence College, here Thursday.

The Malaysian armed forces have long been known internationally as one of the best security forces in extending humanitarian aid through the HADR and WFP in countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia.

Dr Ahmad Zahid also said that the officers and men of the three services of the armed forces should adapt themselves to global needs, not only in terms of physical strength but also mental and communications prowess.

At the ceremony, Lt Col Xu Hong Cai was the first soldier from China to graduate from the college since it was set up in 1981.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said this was the result of bilateral cooperation, whereby Malaysia had sent three officers from each of the three services of the armed forces to the republic to further their studies there.

Xu said he was honoured to be the first soldier from China to receive the Masters degree from the college.

— BERNAMA