Armed Forces veterans may be included in govt pension scheme, says PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Armed Forces veterans may be included under the government pension scheme, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

"This will be the first time that the issue related to veterans will be brought into the agenda of the special meeting to discuss the government service and retirement scheme next Monday (Aug 7)," the Prime Minister said in his speech at the Armed Forces Veteran Empowerment programme here on Monday (July 31).

Anwar noted that previous aid programmes for veterans had merely addressed their plight in a piecemeal manner.

Anwar said he often had to listen to the grouses of veterans while on the ground in Port Dickson when he became the Member of Parliament there in October 2018.

"These various schemes will not solve the problem.

"If we ignore it, it will become a chronic problem," he said, adding that he wants to settle the matter "once and for all".

When met after the event, Anwar explained that the government would generally conduct a study on civil servants and their retirement scheme benefits once every 10 years.

"This was not done (recently) and the last study was in 2012.

"Preparations are usually done a year or two ahead of the meeting.

"Next Monday the committee will hold its first meeting to do an overall study and make (efforts) to improve the status and income of the various schemes.

"It will be the first time that veterans will be included which will involve both pensionable and non-pensionable veterans," he said.

Meanwhile, Anwar said the Cabinet would decide on Wednesday (Aug 2) on how all government-linked companies (GLCs) would be able to assist veterans.

"At present, only a few agencies such as the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) and the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) are involved.

"We want others such as the Rubber Industry Smallholders Development Authority (Risda), Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) and others to find ways to provide a solution or funds to help solve the problems faced by veterans," he said.

He said other GLCs such Khazanah Nasional Berhad, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (PETRONAS) and others could help include veterans in their programmes.

"If all this can be done, I am sure thousands of veterans can be absorbed," he said.

Earlier, Anwar presented RM5,000 grants to former Armed Forces personnel Azizan Radin, Azman Abu Suid, Muhammad Hedzir Taib, Muhamad Rafie Bujang and Kamaru Zaman Saleh.

The grants were provided to the men to boost their rural business enterprises ranging from cushion sewing to cake making, computer repairs to car workshops.

Also present at the event were Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, his deputy Adly Zahari and Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.