SERIAN: Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot Jaem allocated a grant of RM10,000 to Balai Ringin branch of Malaysian Army Veterans Association or
Persatuan Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM) at Dewan Masyarakat Serian on Sunday.
The grant from the minister was announced by his political secretary Major (rtd) Datuk Peter Runin who represented him at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the PVATM Balai Ringin branch Sunday, adding that
Riot could not come to the AGM due to commitment in Putrajaya.
In his address, Peter said veterans, including retired army officers, have been reminded of their bounded duty of keeping public peace and quiet. A former soldier himself, Peter said even in retirement former soldiers must continue to uphold their oath as the nation’s peacekeepers. He said one of the ways how they could contribute to the peace is to not get involved in the negative politics of the oppositions.
“Remember, you are not just veterans but you are patriots who once put your lives on the line to secure the peace n security of the state n country.
“You fought battles against the communists. You quelled political uprisings and ensured the government elected by the people continued to rule.
“Even in your retirement you can still help to keep the peace by not joining those out to topple the government,” he said
On another matter, the retired army Major said there are some 360,000 retired soldiers now, some of whom do not enjoy any pension.
He said last February, the government agreed to set aside RM9mil to Defence Ministry with which to help retired soldiers seek training and to be certified as such to increase their employability. According to him, many soldiers while in service were taught to do a lot of work like building roads and bridges, repairing vehicles and heavy machines and doing electrical. Many became experts in these fields but had no certificate to show.
“We want to give these veterans the formal training so that they obtain the relevant certificates,” he said, adding retired soldiers deserved more than just being security guards.
He said another programme with which the government hopes to help veterans is one targetted at their spouses who are highly educated but forced to stay home as housewives because they had to follow their soldier husbands.
“We want to see how to get these wives, some of whom are diploma holders, to contribute to the family economy by operating from home,” he elaborated.
Peter also advised association members to do more in recruiting veterans who have yet to join the association.
“Don’t pick and choose. Don’t leave out those you didn’t like – for whatever reasons – while you were still soldiers.
Remember, as soldiers and former soldiers, your strength lies in your comradeship and brotherhood. Therefore, continue to ignite that brotherhood, “ he advised.
Earlier, Balai Ringin branch chairman ex-warrant officer II Lawa Ganyui said his chapter will concentrate its efforts on helping aged and sick veterans, especially those without pensions.
He said also in their radar are widows of veterans who have no pensions to fall back on.
