THE Dewan Rakyat passed the armed forces fund (amendment) bill 2022 today, containing 12 articles amending the Tabung Angkatan Tentera Act 1973 to expand the scope of the board’s investment and to provide the board with the power to incorporate companies as an addition to existing powers of establishing corporations.

The bill was tabled by Deputy Defence Minister Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz was passed after 15 MPs participated in the debate.

Ikmal said during the winding-up of the debate that the amendment’s main focus was to ensure that the contributions in the fund were secure.

“Servicemen and women sacrifice their lives and energy to ensure the safety and peace of our country and at the same time, they, like civilians, want to ensure that when they retire they have savings that can ensure their living in the future.

“With the amendment to this act, armed forces personnel will be more willing in carrying out their duties knowing that their contributions for their future is safe and guaranteed under the LTAT as it is managed by an effective, wise and trusted management,” Ikmal said.

During the debate, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim expressed concern about the effectiveness of the LTAT management.

“IF LTAT and its corporations are governed transparently and with proper principles of governance, they will be more capable after this as they will not have to rely solely on contributions,” he said.

The Dewan Rakyat also passed the federal agricultural marketing authority (amendment) bill 2022 that aimed to provide the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) with the power to stabilise the livestock commodity supply chain.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture and Food Industry Minister Ahmad Hamzah said, when tabling the bill, the ministry aims to drive the development of the livestock sector with the expansion of Fama’s powers to ensure national food security.

“Indirectly, it will boost the agri-food sector’s contribution to GDP through the empowerment of small and semi commercial livestock breeders,” he added. – Bernama, August 1, 2022.