Chief of Defence Force Gen Affendi Buang said this was because ATM personnel understand their responsibilities and roles to continue to fight the enemy, including the pandemic.

He said military personnel understand that they have responsibilities and are fully committed to addressing the Covid-19 threat.

“The ATM views the pandemic as a form of threat that is dangerous and can result in deaths,” he said in an interview in conjunction with the 88th Armed Forces Day at Wisma Perwira ATM here. Armed Forces Day is celebrated on Sept 16.

He said ATM was always looking for ways to uplift the spirit of its personnel and ensure that they were mentally and physically at their best.

“Thus far, the ATM has yet to receive any reports of its personnel suffering from burnout,” he said.

In another development, Affendi said ATM had discovered that many of its personnel have been facing financial difficulties that indirectly put them in the B40 category after retirement.

“One of the causes is that they do not have a second career opportunity after retirement.

“ATM is always looking for a solution to this issue, including encouraging their wives to work part-time and help in generating family income,” he said.

He said ATM would also ensure that its personnel who are retiring are mentally prepared during the retirement phase so that they can live comfortably.

“Most army personnel retire at the age of 40, and they all have commitments and monthly expenses like car and housing loans.

“We also see that their wives, who have skills, can help generate income through online businesses, which will help their husbands after retirement,” he said.