THE government will continue to safeguard the welfare of veterans of the Malaysian armed forces through various initiatives.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said one of the initiatives is to increase their income by providing them an opportunity for a second career, which is carried out in collaboration with several agencies including Armed Forces Fund Board.

Through the initiative, armed forces personnel who complete their service this year will be matched with job opportunities or given training to improve their skills, he said.

Adly said there are many matching grants and funds available for them to apply to venture into business.

He advised armed forces veterans who have yet to register with the Department of Veterans Affairs to do so to benefit from the various initiatives provided.

It will also facilitate in looking after the welfare and health of the veterans, he said, adding that there are about 100,000 veterans who have not registered with the department.

Adly was speaking to reporters after visiting armed forces veteran Masrizal Ishak, 42, who is bedridden due to systemic lupus erythematosus, at his house in Kampung Masjid Hujung, Hutan Kampung, Alor Star today.

Another initiative, Adly said, is for the building of 40 houses and the repair of 170 houses this year under the Armed Forces Veteran Housing Programme.

“If we look at our 100-day key performance indicator, the ministry is targeting (approval of) 100 applications for home repairs, but as of March, we have already approved 121 applications, exceeding the target,” he said.

Adly also said the number of beneficiaries of Bantuan Sara Hidup, amounting to RM300 a month, had been extended to 15,000 armed forces veterans this year, involving an allocation of RM54 million per year. – Bernama, April 1, 2023.