KUCHING: The federal government, in particular the Defence ministry, is urged to make an immediate decision in considering some issues raised by military veterans, especially on pension issues.
The Rangers Corps Veterans Association (PVTKR) president Lt. Col. (Rtd) Mohd Melintang Abdullah said the issue of pension rate gap, allowances for the National Service Medal (PJN) and other hotly debated issues were all yesterday’s news.
“The issues brought up by the veterans of the armed forces are all well-known. There have been discussions about it for around 10 years, but the government has not yet made a decision.
“We acknowledge that our veterans are receiving assistance but we appeal to the government to consider the approval of equal pension, PJN allowance and to improve other assistance that are worth their sacrifices and services,” he said in a statement yesterday.
Therefore, he said their association fully supported any effort by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to help the nation’s veterans to live a comfortable life.
He emphasised the service of the country’s armed forces as a key pillar of the country’s sovereignty and security, especially those who retired before 2013.
They were the ones, he added, who fought in the battlefields and successfully ended the terrorist threat to overthrow the government.
He noted that Malaysia was among the small number of countries in the world that successfully ended the Communist Insurgency war against the threat of communist terrorists, forcing the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) to put down their weapons on December 2, 1989 in Peninsular Malaysia whereby members of the North Kalimantan Communist Party (PKKU) in Sarawak surrendered on November 3, 1990.
“Thanks to the warriors and veterans who have sacrificed, served and perished in defending the country’s sovereignty and security.
“The peace, tranquillity and the well-being of the country we now enjoy enable us to complete our daily work and to sleep without fear, is the result of their sacrifice and service.
“Their service to the country is irreplaceable,” he said.
In June this year, hundreds of armed forces veterans held peaceful rallies in several cities including at National Monument in Kuala Lumpur calling for a review of the military pension scheme.
Besides calling for a narrowed pensions’ rate gap, the group are also demanding for the government to give pensions to those who served less than 21 years.
Currently, only those who served a minimum of 21 years in the military are entitled to a monthly pension.
