Umno Youth chief and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin has joined the Askar Wataniah (Territorial Army) as a reserve after completing one month of training in Negeri Sembilan and Johor.

Khairy said his involvement in the Territorial Army was not politically motivated but to serve the country.

"There is no politics in the military, and If I can attract the other Youth leaders, whether they are from Barisan Nasional, PKR, PAS or DAP, or the fence-sitters to join the Territorial Army as reserves, it will be good for the country."

NONE Khairy ( far left ) said this after a passing-out parade in Seremban today following completion of the basic army training programme of the Terriorial Army's 508 Regiment.

Also present to see Khairy and 87 other army reserves in his squad mount the parade were his father-in-law and former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and wife Jeanne Abdullah.

Khairy, 34, said although he was offered an Honorary Major rank, he opted to go through the tough training with the young participants where one of them, a 19-year-old named Rajah, became his buddy during the training camp.

According to Khairy's aide Shahril Hamdan, the Umno Youth chief did not take up the Honorary Major offer but instead went through the month-long training "like everyone else to now become a 'perajurit' or 'private'".

Khairy who plans to continue training despite his busy schedule, also urged parents to encourage their children, especially those who had just completed their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, to join the Territorial Army to toughen them up and build discipline.

- Bernama