Armed Forces' school project for Berhala island stateless children gets thumbs up

 By Olivia Miwil - January 6, 2022 @ 12:17pm

Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Othman Hashim (centre) exchanging souvenir with army personnel at Berhala island here. - Pic courtesy MAF.
Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Othman Hashim (centre) exchanging souvenir with army personnel at Berhala island here. - Pic courtesy MAF.

SANDAKAN: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) got a thumbs up from the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) for its efforts in providing education and water supply on Berhala island here.

After building a school, the MAF education staff have been providing education-reading, writing and arithmetic for the stateless children.

Currently, there are 293 students.

"Through the establishment of the school, MAF had also won the Suhakam Basic Human Rights Awards in Sept 9, 2014.

"In the context of Suhakam's visit here, it reflects a clear picture of MAF's role in ensuring safety and peace among the local community.

"At the same time, (the visit yesterday) also allowed Suhakam to evaluate the human rights aspects and give indirect guidance to improve their performance if there are any necessities," it said according to a statement following the inaugural visit by Suhakam chairman Tan Sri Othman Hashim.

Othman was welcomed by Royal Malaysian Air Force's Joint Task Force 2 Chief Staff Colonel Mohammed Firdauz Osman, 2nd Battalion Royal Ranger Regiment commanding officer Lt Kol Firdaus Shah Budin, as well as officers and personnel operating on the island.

The visit also saw Othman planting a tree at the camp vicinity in conjunction with the army's Sustainable Green Earth programme, attend a briefing and handing of books from Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

He also launched a well dug by the army, which was one of the projects in improving the peoples' lives.

Mohammed said Suhakam's visit also showed close cooperation between two government agencies being proactive in assisting the community especially in the aspect of human rights.




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