MAKE HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT A MAIN AGENDA, PM TELLS DEFENCE MINISTRY

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 21 (Bernama) -- The Defence Ministry should invest in human capital development as one of its main agendas, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said Friday.

Abdullah, who is also defence minister, said investment in human capital
would not only produce knowledge workers with strategic thinking but also human
resources which were sensitive to change.

"Every member of the ministry, both civilian and military, must be trained
to equip them with suitable skills to face the current changes.

"I'm aware that developing a workforce that is relevant to current trends
in
the world is the biggest challenge that the ministry faces now," he said at its
Quality and Integrity Day celebration here.

His speech was delviered by Deputy Defence Minsiter Abu Seman
Yusop.

Abdullah said that with a trained and committee workforce the ministry
would
be able to maintain its monopoly as policy maker, advisor and implementer of
government policies in the country's security affairs.

He said the government had allocated a sum under the ninth Malaysia Plan
(9MP) to ensure more effective applicattion of planned human capital
development.

"The incentives given to military personnel, especially those in the lower
ranks, include improvement of service scheme, opportunies for promotion and
provision of comfortable housing and infrastructure," he said.

The incentives were focused not only on serving personnel but also on
ex-servicemen.

"In appreciation of the contributions of military retirees, the government
also gives this group various incentives like giving them preference in tenders
by the Defence Ministry," he said.

Abdullah said he hoped that with these incentives the retiress would be
able
to raise their quality of life and become the nation's frontline when needed.