Besut: Army veterans have taken up new roles as wardens at two Mara Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) located in Besut, Terengganu, and Balik Pulau, Penang. This initiative marks a pioneering step by the Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA) to integrate the skills and experience of former military personnel into the educational sector.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) director-general, Maj Gen Datuk Semaon Marjuki, announced that this pilot project involves four men and four women veterans who successfully passed the necessary tests and interviews. He emphasized that the skills and character built during military service would provide valuable contributions to shaping the students' character in these full boarding schools.

Semaon further noted that this initiative is seen as a trial by MARA, which, if successful, could lead to more army veterans being appointed as wardens in MRSM. The initiative follows a similar approach by the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), which has already integrated over 400 ex-servicemen as community rangers.

The pilot project was initially announced by MARA chairman, Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, last month. In addition to the education sector, discussions are underway between JHEV and the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) to explore the possibility of employing army veterans within its ranks. However, Semaon mentioned that this proposal is still in the discussion phase, with several aspects requiring further examination.