KUALA LUMPUR: Recent issues and controversies involving the Armed Forces do not reflect the true character of the institution, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister stressed that the military remains a respected and distinguished pillar of national defence.
"There have been isolated incidents involving lapses in integrity, abuse of power and unhealthy lifestyles, which have tarnished the image and reputation of the Armed Forces.
"However, such incidents were the actions of a small minority and should not be seen as representative of the Armed Forces as a whole," he said in his speech during the "Pingat Jasa Malaysia" ceremony on Wednesday (Feb 4).
He said such actions of the few are not, and will never be, the true reflection of the Armed Forces.
"The real face of the Armed Forces lies in the service, sacrifice and tireless contributions of its veterans,” he said.
He added that when Malaysians think of the military, what should come to mind is the courage and dedication of its personnel, rather than actions that betray the noble responsibility of safeguarding national security and sovereignty.
"We are actively working to restore the integrity and credibility of the military, in line with the goals outlined in my New Year address.
"Efforts are also underway to correct public perception of the country’s defence institution this we hope veterans can lend their support in helping to restore confidence in the Armed Forces," he added.
As former members of the Armed Forces, veterans understand better than anyone that negative behaviour is not part of the Armed Forces’ culture, Mohamed Khaled said.
"Let us work together to rebuild the confidence of society, the nation and the country in the Armed Forces,” he added.
He also reminded the public that the peace and stability enjoyed today exist because of the enduring sacrifices and contributions of those in the military.
On another matter, Mohamed Khaled said the government has allocated RM303.3mil to the Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Department this year, which is an increase of 3.16% from RM294mil last year.
"Of the total allocation, RM274.4mil, or nearly 90%, will be channelled specifically towards veteran welfare programmes.
"It includes a one-off RM250 Special Financial Assistance for all veterans, to be distributed by department, as announced by the Prime Minister in his Budget 2026 speech," he said.
He said the assistance is expected to be disbursed in early March 2026, ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
Additionally, Pingat Jasa Malaysia recipients will also receive RM500 each in one-off payments this year.
