SERIAN: The Ministry of Defence has committed RM30 million in 2026 to upgrade facilities and equipment at Sarawak’s 12 border posts.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Adly Zahari, said the allocation, drawn from the 13th Malaysia Plan, is specifically earmarked for enhancing existing infrastructure at border installations across the state – a follow-up to a major development push in 2024 that saw several new posts constructed at a combined cost of RM43 million.
“This year we are focusing on upgrading older posts to bring them in line with current standards and to improve the welfare of our personnel stationed at the frontier.
“Most of the new construction has already been completed in 2024,” he announced during a press conference after the ‘Program Peduli Veteran MADANI 2026’ event at Rumah Bulit Jimbun in Kampung Ensebang Plaie here on Friday.
Adly was accompanied by the Director-General of the Department of Veterans Affairs of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Major-General Datuk Semaon Marjuki.
Sarawak currently operates 12 border posts, three of which are joint installations shared with the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI).
He confirmed that the post at Tebedu is home to eight TNI personnel serving alongside their Malaysian counterparts – a cooperation he described as essential to regional security.
He stressed that no staffing shortages exist under current rotation schedules, and that the ministry’s priority is ensuring the welfare of troops rather than expanding headcount.
Plans for additional posts in future years are under discussion and will be finalised in consultation with the National Security Council and the Sarawak State Government, though no specific targets were disclosed.
The visit to Kampung Ensebang Plaie was conducted under ‘Program Peduli Veteran MADANI (PVM) 2026’, an initiative by the Ministry of Defence aimed at reaching veterans in their homes and communities.
At the home of veteran Bulit Jimbun at Rumah Bulit Jimbun, Kampung Ensebang Plaie, Adly noted that multiple generations of the family – including grandchildren – are currently serving in the armed forces.
“We deeply value the role of Sarawak’s veterans. They are not just defending Sarawak or Sabah; they are the bulwark of Malaysia as a whole,” he said.
In addition to the border post inspection at Tebedu, the delegation’s two-day itinerary included home visits to 16 veterans across the Balai Ringin and Simunjan districts.
The ministry’s outreach covered both pensioned and non-pensioned veterans, with officials assessing eligibility for living allowances and healthcare benefits.
Nationwide, the ministry has allocated more than RM300 million for veterans’ welfare in 2026 – a significant rise from the RM87-million figure recorded when the current administration assumed the defence portfolio.
The funds cover living allowances, healthcare, housing, education for veterans’ children, and socioeconomic support for newly discharged service members under ‘Program Peduli Veteran MADANI (PVM) 2026’.
