Is this the right choice?

KUALA LUMPUR, April 6 (Bernama) -- The 1st Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment (RMR) will experience the touch of British royalty when the 75-year-old division of the Malaysian Armed Forces perform the prestigious "London Public Duties" in London, England soon.Malaysia is the fourth Commonwealth nation, after Canada, Australia and Jamaica, to be honoured in performing the Public Duties in England.One of the tasks awaiting the RMR team is to guard the official residence of the British Monarch, the Buckingham Palace.Acting Director of the Malaysian Armed Forces Public Relations Office, Colonel Fadzlette Othman Merican said a total of 122 RMR personnel from the royal ceremonial team had been selected for the assignment."On Feb 28 2007, Chief of General Staff of the United Kingdom, Sir Richard Dannat paid an official visit to Malaysia and witnessed our RMR soldiers conducting guards-of-honour. The coordination and discipline among the soldiers during the march won his heart, and later graced the RMR to perform Public Duties."Basically Public Duties are divided into two tasks, firstly the "Queen's Guard" where we have to guard the Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace and Tower of London. Secondly, the Windsor Castle Guard, where we will guard the Windsor Castle, one of the Queen Elizabeth II residences," she told Bernama in an exclusive interview here Sunday.She said the RMR would be involved in regimental tasks with other battalions in the Household division along their placement in Buckingham Palace. The team will depart for London on Apr 16 and expected to start their duty on April 18 until June 12 and the trip (including insurance, attire, flight tickets) cost almost RM1.9 million.Army chief Tan Sri Muhammad Ismail Jamaluddin and RMR's Colonel-in-Chief, the Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah will visit the team on May 19 and June 5 respectively.Public Duties are performed by military personnel and usually have a ceremonial or historic significance rather than an overtly operational role, she said."The team will be attired in ceremonial temperate dress, comprising a red coat, black pant and the bearskin cap. They also will be provided with M16 Crome machineguns for duty routines."They will also participate in Changing of the Guard ceremony at the forecourt of both palaces, as well as conducting night patrols, guarding the palace's check-posts and be a part of the quick reaction force," she said adding the team would be given accommodation at the Wellington Barracks in central London.Three infantry battalions of the British army are currently tasked with the provision of Public Duties. Two of these are from the Foot Guards of the Household Division, and one (since 1996) is a line infantry battalion."The team are undergoing intensive trainings in marching skills, English language classes, learning history of the RMR and Malaysian Armed Forces and mastering computer skills. Training and classes are conducted at the Sg Besi Army base by special trainers from UK," she said.On the sideline of the duty, the RMR "Brass Band" (official RMR band) will be performing at a tatoo at the Windsor Castle and during the official opening of the Arsenal football club's Emirates Stadium in London.She said the opportunity given to the RMR to serve in Public Duties would be the best platform to upgrade their profesionalism and their knowledge capability.-- BERNAMA

Our Malaysian Army is going to serve in UK ? What is the use of this prestigious "London Public Duties" ? In order to get the fame we again have to spend money to serve the British Monarch. What is our government trying to do right now...

Again they are spending the tax payers money blindly. In order to serve the British Monarch our country has to cover all their travel expenses to UK. Although the amount is only RM 1.9 million but is still the money of the people. The amount is consider less compare to the one that sending an 'astronaut idol' to space. I just feel that the money should be use in another way that benefit the country.

What do we get when we serve such duty ? Is it the fame for being the 4th Commonwealth Country to perform such duty...

Maybe I don't know the true meaning of this event but I really feel furious the way the tax money were spend by the government. I hope that someone can share with me their opinion whether you agree with it or not.