KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry has approved nearly RM11 million for an additional block at the Royal Military College (RMC).
The allocation also involves renovation and construction of a logistics and maintenance complex, vehicles, weapons store, a business site and other training amenities for the college.
Armed Forces chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said work on the project had begun on Dec 15 last year and was expected to be completed on June 14, next year.
"The project will also provide an obstacle-crossing circuit, abseiling tower and a 'flying fox' facility.
"These facilities, which have been approved, are currently in the design process by the Defense Engineering Services Division," he said at the '2021 passing-out parade' of 480 RMC male students in Sungai Besi.
They comprised 223 Form 5 students who had completed their stint at RMC, and 257 who are still in Form 4.
Present were Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Muez Abdul Aziz, Army chief General Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, Royal Malaysian Navy Chief Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, Royal Malaysian Air Force Deputy Chief Lt-Gen Datuk Indera Mohammad Salleh Osman and RMC commandant Brig-Gen Datuk Mohd Shaifuddin Mohd Shariff.
Affendi said the RMC students managed to successfully cope with the various constraints following the outbreak of the Covid-19 epidemic that had limited their physical activities and slightly disrupted their learning programmes, the past 2 years.
"However, it did not stop them from proving that any obstacle can be overcome with the determination to achieve success, thanks to their high resilience," he said, while also attributing their success to the hard work of the college's educators and administrators.
He added that based on the results of examinations administered by the Education Ministry, RMC remained on an encouraging ladder.
"These results reinforce the vision to produce competitive as well as holistic students.
"The average achievement proves that RMC is able to produce students who excel academically, as well as have a dynamic character," he said.
Affendi was confident that RMC would excel as an educational institution and continue to play its role in producing successful future leaders in the country, covering various fields and sectors.
On the admission quota for RMC graduates into the Malaysian National Defence University, Affendi said it was retained at 40 per cent.
This he said, was to provide an opportunity for the students to further their studies at the university and further open opportunities for them to join the Malaysian Armed Forces.
Affendi also reiterated that admission to RMC would remain only for Form Four and Five students, as there was no proposal to reintroduce intakes from Form 1.
"We have undergone some evolution in student recruitment and before this we have recruited Form 1 to Form 3 students, but we found that this (military) learning pattern is more suitable for older students," said Affendi.
Later, Affendi presented Senior Under-Officer Mohd Jasim Abdul Aziz of the 'Foxtrot Company' with the Defence Minister's award as the overall best student.
The best academic student was Junior Under-Officer Nu'man Hadif Ahmad Aezuddin from 'Charlie Company', while Junior Under-Officer Qarin Loqman Safriza from 'Golf Company' won the commandant's award for military excellence.
'Golf Company' was adjudged tops in academics, sports and military aspects.