Askar Wataniah enlistment booth offers contrast at Umno political gathering

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 16 — The Territorial Army of Malaysia (Askar Wataniah) set up an enlistment booth at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur during an Umno political event, providing a disciplined contrast to the surrounding political activities.

Uniformed personnel displayed unloaded firearms and engaged delegates interested in becoming army reservists.

Second lieutenant Nur Izatul Azma from the 515th Reserved Regiment highlighted the benefits of joining, including firearms handling skills.

"One of the most valuable skills one could learn is firearms handling which can be very useful during times of conflict," she said.

"In fact, what trainees experienced during basic training is almost similar to those experienced by the Malaysian Armed Forces since training officers are real military personnel themselves," she said.

Delegates paused to listen, take photos, and handle firearms, creating moments of excitement amid the political bustle.

Nur Izatul explained that enlistment programs typically attract 20 to 40 people and are frequently set up at major gatherings.

Askar Wataniah has maintained booths at every Umno annual general assembly, though the exact start date of this practice is unknown.

Enlistment is open to individuals aged 18 to 45, with the majority of participants being men.

The booth's presence underscores the ongoing recruitment efforts of Malaysia's army reserve amid political events.