THE Federal Government is committed to looking after the welfare of military veterans by increasing the welfare assistance from RM118mil to RM244mil in 2024.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said up to July 10, a total of 29,331 veterans had received this benefit involving payments totalling RM56mil.
“The ministry will ensure this allocation is spent through the Veteran Affairs Department (JHEV) and fully utilised by veterans registered through VIBES (Veteran Integrated Benefit System),” he told the media after attending the Sibu District Level Veteran Care Programme.
According to statistics, there are 16,939 Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans in Sarawak, where 4,964 were non-pensionable.
As for Sibu District, there were 1,340 veterans, with 313 of them non-pensionable, said Adly.
He advised veterans to register and update their personal information through JHEV or associations in their respective localities.
“Various forms of assistance have been provided by the government to ensure the welfare of ATM veterans.
“Among them are Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH), school assistance, admission assistance to higher education institutions, patient equipment assistance and natural disasters assistance,” he said.
At the programme, Adly presented a foldable table to veteran Said Ismail to help him run his restaurant business.
Adly visited veterans in Song, Kapit, Kanowit and Bintangor districts as part of his three-day visit to the state.
He was also informed that 20 veterans are infirm, chronically ill and need special attention.
Adly presented donations in the form of essential items such as food, nutritional supplements and adult diapers to these veterans and also distributed 550 Rahmah Baskets to veterans’ associations to be given to hardcore poor ex-servicemen.
He also met with five veteran entrepreneurs who had ventured into the honey kelulut, frozen food and restaurant businesses.
