KUCHING: Rangers Corps Veterans Association president Lt-Kol (Rtd) Mohd Melintang Abdullah is urging the authorities to take action against tycoon Koon Yew Yin for disparaging the Malaysian Armed Forces in his blog post.
“We are very disappointed with the statement. We put our lives at stake for the peace and prosperity of the nation,” he said after lodging a police report here yesterday. Gamuda Berhad founder Koon had on Monday claimed that the nation’s military personnel were “doing nothing except eating and sleeping”, and proposed that the government downsize their numbers and second some to work in plantations. Melintang stressed that without the armed forces, peace would not have prevailed in the country.
He elaborated that when the veterans were still active, they were sent to areas of operation such as the Thailand-Malaysia border, risking their lives to ensure that Malaysia and her citizens are safe. Regarding Koon’s following apology, Melintang said it was not enough.
“He needs to change his perception about those who look after the sovereignty of our nation.” More than 30 members from various military veteran associations accompanied Melintang to the Sungai Maong police station. Among the associations are Sarawak Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association, Armed Forces Veteran Association of Sarawak and Malaysian Armed Forces Indian Veterans Association.