KUALA LUMPUR: Military personnel and veterans will be able to buy essential goods at discounted prices throughout the year under a new Defence Ministry initiative offered through Malaysian Armed Forces Trading Corporation (Pernama) outlets nationwide.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the Harga Istimewa, Tentera Sejahtera (HITS) initiative would offer discounts of up to 30 per cent on 308 items at all 80 Pernama outlets.
Khaled said the initiative was part of the ministry's broader efforts to improve the welfare of military personnel, as combat readiness depended not only on defence assets and personnel but also on the well-being of service members.
He said the ministry had introduced various initiatives involving housing, healthcare, education, skills development and economic opportunities, with HITS focusing on reducing the daily cost of living for military families.
"Today, we complete this with the matter of purchasing groceries for personnel. Pernama will play a big role in offering and providing goods at truly affordable prices, even cheaper than outside prices," he told reporters after launching HITS at Pernama Kem Terendak in Melaka.
Khaled said Pernama must also channel its profits back to the armed forces by offering cheaper goods at its outlets.
"With the big profits that Pernama makes, we believe those profits can be returned. Like a cooperative, it makes a profit, and in the end it gives back to the personnel, but for that to happen, military personnel must support Pernama.
"The higher its sales, the better the returns that will be given to personnel," he said.
Also present were army chief General Tan Sri Azhan Md Othman, Defence Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali and state Housing, Local Government, Drainage, Climate Change and Disaster Management Committee chairman Datuk Rais Yasin.
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