Kota Kinabalu: A total of 661 schoolchildren from naval families received new school supplies from Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, marking a key highlight of his working visit to the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Base in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.
The aid, presented under the Jelajah Wira Madani Negeri Sabah programme, reflected the government’s commitment to supporting the families of Armed Forces personnel, many of whom balance service demands with family responsibilities.
“This initiative is a token of appreciation to our frontliners, especially the men and women in uniform, for their loyalty and sacrifices,” he said.
In addition to school assistance, Mohamed Khaled handed over ATM Disaster Emergency Aid to 15 personnel who were directly affected by the recent floods in Sabah.
He said readiness is vital for defending the nation, but equally important is the wellbeing of our servicemen and their families.
During the ceremony, the Defence Minister also delivered a symbolic mock cheque worth RM25,000 to the headmaster of Sekolah Kebangsaan Pangkalan TLDM Kota Kinabalu, Mohammad Rozalli Rambangan, to further support the educational needs of naval families.
Expanding on welfare measures, Mohamed Khaled witnessed the handover of major donations to the ATM Natural Disaster Emergency Fund. The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) and its subsidiaries pledged RM400,000, while Trans Resources Corporation Sdn Bhd contributed RM20,000, strengthening financial resources for emergency relief within the armed forces.
“LTAT’s role goes beyond dividends and savings, it must also channel its strength to welfare programmes such as the Madani Adopted School, Madani Santoni Camp, and today’s disaster aid contribution to show gratitude to those who safeguard our nation,” he said. The event highlighted how collaboration between government, institutions, and private sector partners can collectively ease the burdens of military families and build resilience against future challenges.
The visit also shone a spotlight on innovation. Mohamed Khaled toured the Smart Zero-Carbon Hydroponic Project, an initiative under the Madani Economic Programme in partnership with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS). Fully funded by UMS at a cost of RM55,000, the hydroponic system will involve ten members of BAKAT TLDM and is expected to produce its first harvest within six months.
He praised the initiative as a model of economic empowerment saying that the hydroponic project will not only provide sustainable food and side income.
“The participants will get up to RM900 a month and at the same time uplift the families of our servicemen. If successful, it will be expanded further,” he said. Beyond welfare and economic empowerment, the Defence Minister also turned his attention to operational readiness.
He inspected the Submarine Command Headquarters, including the hangar, synchrolift jetty, workshops, and operational jetties, to assess the preparedness of Malaysia’s underwater defence assets.
He acknowledged Sabah’s strategic importance, noting: “This state borders the Philippines, Indonesia, the South China Sea, the Sulu Sea and the Celebes Sea.
The Kota Kinabalu RMN Base is not only vital to our sovereignty but also the command hub of the Eastern Fleet. We will continue to prioritise Sabah’s security.” Senior naval leadership accompanied the minister throughout the programme, including Vice Admiral Dato’ Khir Junaidi Idris, Commander of the Eastern Fleet, Major General Dato’ Ts. Riezal Arif Tan Sri Ismail, Assistant Chief of Staff for Personnel Services, and Rear Admiral Datuk Yusne Mokhtar, Commander of Naval Region 2.
For many personnel and their families, the minister’s presence carried symbolic weight. “Everything we do is to ensure our Armed Forces live with dignity, security and high morale,” he assured.
“As Defence Minister, I personally guarantee that welfare and preparedness will always remain our dual priorities.”The Jelajah Wira Madani initiative, which has toured multiple states, continues to bridge policy and practice, bringing aid, infrastructure support, and innovation directly to service members where they are based.
By centering his visit on the needs of children, families, and disaster-affected personnel, Mohamed Khaled reinforced a powerful message: the strength of Malaysia’s defence lies not only in its military assets but in the wellbeing of the people who serve.
