60,000 ATM VOLUNTEERS TARGET ACHIEVED - MINISTER

KUALA TERENGGANU (Terengganu, Malaysia), Dec 11 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Armed
Forces (ATM) volunteers have reached 60,632, surpassing the 60,000 target set by
the Defence Ministry.

Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Malays form the bulk with 48,882
(86.2%), Chinese 3,092 (5.1%), Indians 1,067 (1.9%) and others 7,591 (12.2%).

He said the ministry plans to set up Territorial Army companies for each of the
222 parliamentary constituencies nationwide.

"Some 198 companies have already been set up with the remaining scheduled for
next year," he said after launching Territorial Army companies for Besut, Setiu,
Dungun and Kemaman at Gong Badak Indoor Stadium Saturday.

Zahid said Saturday's launch of four companies means that all east coast state
of Terengganu parliamentary constituencies now have their own Territorial Army
companies.

Four companies for Kuala Terengganu, Marang, Kuala Nerus and Hulu Terengganu
were set up in stages from 2005-2009.
--BERNAMA