Army chief Azhan Othman expects the relaxed criteria to result in a 10% to 20% increase in the number of eligible young recruits for each intake.

“Regarding height requirements, we have also lowered the minimum height to 157cm from 162cm previously.

“The body mass index requirement for joining the Malaysian Armed Forces is generally set between 18 and 27.9, depending on the branch of service and type of recruitment,” he said after an event in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, Berita Harian reported.

Azhan said the quality of recruits had not been compromised and the focus was now on technical expertise and capabilities.

“Although the entry requirements for young recruits have been relaxed, improvements in technical skills and competencies are still taken into account,” he said.

“The army also places strong emphasis on training that builds character, physical and mental resilience, as well as discipline, self-confidence and professional competency among soldiers.”

He said 1,236 young recruits had successfully completed training in the current intake.

“The young recruit training programme is designed as a foundation to develop knowledgeable and skilled personnel before they are absorbed into corps or regiments, according to their respective specialisations,” he said.