SIBU, Nov 2: The RM350 one-off special financial aid under Budget 2022 for non-pensionable Armed Forces veterans shows the government’s appreciation towards the contribution of those who had served during the Communist Insurgency time.
Sarawak Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Association president Francis Yeo said today that this special assistance which was announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday, was for veterans who had served before 1989.
Yeo said the aid was initially not listed under Budget 2022 but after the army veterans brought out their case, it was finally approved.
“Those who served before 1989, had sacrificed their life for the State and country during the emergency time. This aid shows that the government take good care of veterans,” he said.
He estimated that there are about 20,000 army veterans who are above 60 years old in Sarawak.
“The number of this army veterans is decreasing every year due to death. I am also one of the veterans as I joined the armed forces before 1989. We had in 2019 requested for such aid of RM500 and also RM300 monthly,” he said.
The State Government, Yeo said, is also taking good care of army veterans with the Tabung Jasa Mu RM500 financial aid for funeral expenses upon their demise.
“At the national level, the Federal Government gives RM3,000 through Jabatan Hal Ehwa Veteran for funeral expenses also. We appreciative this aid but we hope it can be increased to RM5,000 due to the high cost of living,” he said.
Among those present were former president of the association, Thomas Ling and an administrative officer of the association Mohd Firdaus Che Ain.
