Wataniah is to be set up in all 222 Parliamentary seats

PASIR MAS: All 222 parliamentary constituencies nationwide will have a Territorial Army (Wataniah) company by year-end, said Armed Forces chief Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.

He said so far the Territorial Army had been set up in 189 parliamentary constituencies with a total strength of 60,000 members under the 506th Territorial Army Regiment.

"This is aimed at attracting youths to join the army as those, who are well trained, can be absorbed into the army.

"This is a privilege for the Territorial Army where trained members can be absorbed as regulars without having to undergo training like the military," he told reporters after launching the Territorial Army companies for the Pasir Mas, Rantau Panjang, Tumpat and Pengkalan Chepa constituencies in Pasir Mas oday.

On the Territorial Army's racial breakdown, he said 89 per cent of the members were Malays, Chinese (six per cent), Indians (three per cent) and other races (two per cent).

- Bernama