MILITARY veterans rallied by the hundreds today to raise awareness of their welfare issues.

The rally, dubbed Veteran Bangkit, was held at the National Monument in Kuala Lumpur.

The retired soldiers said it is saddening to see communists being treated better than those who have sacrificed so much for the country.

“It feels like communist terrorists have it better than us. The situation is terrible,” said Abu Wirid, 65.

“We, who have sacrificed so much for the country, are being treated like garbage.

“We saw so many of our fellow brothers die while in service, but now it feels like they’re meaningless to the government.”

Following the government’s peace agreement with the communists in 1990, some former communists were allowed to resettle with pensions in Thailand, while others were allowed to resettle in their hometowns.

Abu said Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob even speaks for those who are on death row in foreign countries, but not retired soldiers.

“Our government writes plea letters to protest the executions of Malaysians abroad, but barely voices out anything for us.”

The group is demanding, among other things, a pension scheme for veterans who retired early.

Currently, military personnel must serve for 21 years to qualify for pension. Those who retire early are exempted from this benefit.

The group said military personnel must be given the same rights as other civil servants, who receive pension after serving for 10 years.

It also wants retired soldiers who were retrenched for disciplinary problems to be pardoned.

Army veteran Kasim Abdullah, 65, said he hopes the government will sympathise with them.

“Communists surrendered to us back in the day, but what has the government done for us?

“We are not threatening the government, but at least do what is right as we have been waiting for a long time.”

He said he hopes that their demands will be met before the 15th general election (GE15).

“We want it to be done before GE15. If not, they will politicise this whole issue.

“They will make promises during their campaigns that most likely will not be kept.

“Take immediate action and stop treating us like garbage.”

Veteran A. Sagunathan, 63, said they are not demanding for something very personal.

“We are asking for only the rights of retired military, which, to me, is not much to ask for.

“It is saddening to see us being treated in this manner after all our sacrifices.

“Soldiers now can afford to buy a car just after a few years of work, but it was not as easy back then.”

Soldiers back in the day earned only about RM60 a month, he added.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein last month said Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans will never be sidelined.

“MAF veterans have been given priority in various sectors, including education, healthcare and housing.”

He said he has no problem with engaging or meeting those truly sincere in protecting the interests of the group. – June 6, 2022.