COMPANIES profiting from military contracts should stop giving out “commissions” to agents and use their gains to fund corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for the military, said Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

Hishammuddin said excess profits by companies should be spent on the welfare of military personnel.

“The industry can make money. But if you do, you must be fair. We want to make sure they are spent on CSR… and channelled back to the military,” Hishammuddin said after inspecting the Lok Kawi military base in Sabah today. 

“The days of ‘commission agents’ are now over. We want the money to go back to our troops,” he said.

He said CSR programmes for the military doesn’t require “big money”, saying such funds can be used to set up a dialysis centre, for example.

“If you are benefitting from the defence industry and its products, why not help the military and channel back the funds to help the veterans and families of military men?,” he said.

Earlier, Hishamuddin said several programmes have been introduced to improve the welfare of the country’s troops, including plans to build 41,000 units of military quarters in Sabah, as well as provide education funds for the children of servicemen. – February 9, 2018.