A total of 16 former Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel will officially begin serving as full-time wardens at eight selected MARA Junior Science Colleges (MRSM) starting Wednesday, July 1, as part of efforts to strengthen student discipline and curb bullying.
MARA Chairman Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki announced the deployment in a Facebook post, saying the initiative reflects the agency’s commitment to creating a safer boarding school environment while restoring public confidence in student welfare and campus security.
The latest appointments mark the second phase of MARA’s full-time warden programme involving military veterans, following a pilot project launched at MRSM Besut in Terengganu and MRSM Balik Pulau in Penang on Oct 18 last year.
According to Asyraf Wajdi, a total of 32 wardens will eventually be assigned across the eight participating MRSM campuses, with each institution receiving two male and two female wardens. The first phase will see 16 male wardens reporting for duty on July 1, 2026.
Recruitment of female wardens is currently underway. He revealed that 162 women had submitted applications, with an online assessment conducted on June 25. Physical interviews are scheduled for July 2, while appointments for successful female candidates are expected to follow shortly after the completion of the same screening process.
The recruitment exercise is being jointly managed by MARA subsidiary Glokal Link Sdn Bhd (GLSB) together with MARA’s Secondary Education Division, the Department of Veterans Affairs (JHEV), TalentCorp and the Malaysian Armed Forces’ Psychology and Counselling Section.
Physical interviews were held on June 15 and 16 at the MARA Higher Skills Institute (IKM) in Kepong, involving 147 shortlisted candidates, including 139 male applicants who had already passed the initial screening stages.
Before attending the interviews, applicants underwent preliminary vetting by JHEV and TalentCorp. Eligibility was limited to recognised ATM veterans who completed their military service honourably and were not discharged due to misconduct, serious disciplinary offences or legal violations that would affect their veteran status.
Asyraf Wajdi said GLSB will complete several mandatory pre-appointment checks before issuing any offer letters. These include verification of veteran status, criminal background screening through the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), and checks against the national child sexual offenders registry.
Beyond face-to-face interviews, candidates are also required to complete multiple assessments, including MyNext OCEAN and RIASEC psychometric tests, military psychological evaluations, mental health screenings, body mass index (BMI) assessments, the bleep fitness test and interviews conducted by a multi-agency panel.
He added that shortlisted candidates must also undergo a final psychological assessment with ATM psychologists or counsellors. The evaluation focuses on child protection awareness, sexual misconduct risk, impulse control, appropriate boundaries between wardens and students, and the candidates’ overall psychological suitability for working in MRSM hostels.
“As a matter of principle, GLSB will not issue any offer letter or appointment until every critical screening process has been successfully completed. Only candidates who demonstrate integrity, possess a clean background and are genuinely suitable to care for MRSM students will be considered,” he said.
The programme will be expanded in stages to all 58 MRSM campuses nationwide, with the third phase scheduled to begin on Jan 1, 2027.
Asyraf Wajdi said MARA remains committed to implementing the initiative carefully, transparensively and in accordance with the law, while placing the safety and well-being of students at the forefront. He added that the approach is intended to meet the expectations of parents, the public and other stakeholders regarding the important role of MRSM wardens.
