The Malaysian army will embark o­n a massive drive to recruit 12,000 soldiers annually to overcome shortages experienced in the past five years, Defence Minister Najib Razak said today.

The campaign, to be conducted three times a year from two previously, was vital to bolster the 85,000-strong army and to fill up vacancies caused by more soldiers retiring or quitting, he said.

"If we can take in 12,000 recruits, I believe our number or strength will reach a sufficient and appropriate level," Najib was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

The army recruited o­nly some 7,000 soldiers last year and 3,000 have signed o­n so far this year, he added.

Bernama

said the recruitment drive was the biggest in the army's 70-year history.

Training period shortened

From this year, the training period for recruits has been cut from six months to 18 weeks to cater for the three recruitment drives but they will get two months of further training at their respective units.

Najib said campaigns to boost the participation of ethnic Chinese and Indian minorities would continue.

Last week, he said the ministry aimed to double the enrollment of non-Malays in military colleges to 30 percent.

The government also targeted to introduce compulsory national service for all young people by 2004 to boost racial integration, strengthen national unity and instil patriotism.

Malaysia's population of 23 million is made up of 65 percent Malays and other indigenous groups, 26 percent Chinese and eight percent Indians. - AFP