Don't neglect welfare of non-pensionable Armed Forces vets, says Pasir Gudang MP

JOHOR BARU: The welfare of non-pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces veterans should not be neglected as they have served the country well, says Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim.

He said that there are about 100 such veterans under his constituency and about 200,000 throughout the country.

"Currently, the cost of living allowance of RM300 is allocated only to veterans with pension and it is limited only to those who are in a dire situation.

"I have met with some non-pensionable veterans on Friday (July 1) and they asked me to highlight their plight.

"They hope that the allowances could be given to all veterans automatically and for it to be increased to RM500 following the rising cost of living," he said in a statement here Saturday (July 2).

He noted that the veterans he met were those who have served the the country between the 1960s and 1980s, including those who were involved in combating the Communists.

"The peace and development that the country enjoys right now would not have been realised without the sacrifice of the veterans.

"As such, it is the responsibility of the government now to help them who are mostly living a difficult life," he said.