KUCHING: The Rangers Corps Veterans Association (PVTKR) has applauded Sri Aman MP Datuk Seri Doris Sophia Brodie for raising the issues of veterans’ pension rates and the allowance for the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) recipients in Parliament.
A delegation from the association paid a visit to the Sri Aman service centre here yesterday and had a discussion with Doris regarding the issues raised during the debate in Parliament.
Doris, when elaborating on the issues she presented, hoped that the Prime Minister and the ministries concerned, especially the Ministry of Defence, would look into them for the sake of veterans across the nation.
“In the past three weeks, I have met some of the veterans and they have told me about the issues they faced. I am surprised to know that in the country, around 78,000 veterans are affected by the very low pension rates.
“So looking at this figure, we should have taken care of them because they have sacrificed a lot for the people and the nation.
“It is time that we should listen to them and try our best as the government to help them as much as possible,” said Doris.
She emphasised that the issues should have been addressed because it is important for the welfare of veterans of the armed forces.
She also said that she wanted to raise the issue in Parliament to make sure the government could focus on looking after the veterans.
“It has been nine years and the issues have yet been resolved, which I feel what they are feeling about it.
“However, all I could do to help is to voice it out and speak it up in Parliament. We will have to wait for the response from the government and the ministry on this, which will probably be within the coming days this month,” she added.
PVTKR president Lt Col (retired) Mohd Melintang Abdullah expressed gratitude on behalf of the association to Doris for being able to speak up on the issues related to the veterans’ welfare.
“I think, the issues have been known for a long time, during the previous four Prime Ministers’ administration”.
“So I am glad that she (Doris) has addressed it in the Parliament and I hope this can be resolved by the unity government. I believe that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for us veterans,” said Melintang.
