Ministry of Defence to Convert Unused Military Land into Veteran Farming Hubs

At a press event in Kota Tinggi, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin unveiled a scheme to repurpose undeveloped Malaysian Armed Forces land for agricultural production under the JanaVeteran programme. In collaboration with Boustead Plantations, the plan will launch ginger cultivation at Felda Air Tawar 2 and 3, guaranteeing a market by having BPlant buy the output. The pilot project, which began with KayTi ginger at Ladang Telok Sengat, seeks to provide employment and income for the 5,000 military personnel who retire annually.

Nordin emphasized that unused land left idle for a decade or more threatens national food security, likening it to non-traditional hazards such as haze. The broader goal is to transform Kota Tinggi into a “food valley” known for KayTi ginger, boosting both veteran welfare and the country’s agricultural resilience.