KUALA LUMPUR – Subscribers to the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) can now withdraw their contributions for the purpose of performing the haj pilgrimage and furthering their studies at local public universities from tomorrow (April 15).
Senior Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said subscribers intending to make withdrawals for haj pilgrimage will have to produce haj pilgrimage offer letters from the Pilgrims’ Fund Board and have subscribed to LTAT for at least 15 years.
He said the maximum withdrawal for haj pilgrimage is RM10,000.
“For education, subscribers pursuing diplomas, degrees, master’s degrees or doctor of philosophy studies at local public universities are allowed maximum withdrawal of RM3,200 to pay the registration fees for the first semester.
“The withdrawals for the two purposes are only allowed once during their service,” he told a press conference after the presentation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri donations to the Defence Ministry here today.
Hishammuddin said the ministry also agreed to increase the rate of overseas port stopover allowances for Royal Malaysian Navy crew from RM20 to RM50 per day.
Meanwhile, he said the Public Service Department had confirmed that the leave replacement benefit (FGCR) given to civil servants would also be extended to members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).
He said the FGCR has also been increased from a maximum of 150 days to 160 days.
“They are also able to enjoy an advance payment equivalent to 80 days of leave without having to wait until the end of service,” he added.
Hishammuddin said he had also instructed the Veterans Affairs Department to expedite the distribution of special financial assistance (BKK) amounting to RM350 to ATM veterans.
“This is because there are many ATM veterans who commented on social media complaining that they have not received BKK assistance as announced in the presentation of the 2022 budget last year,” he said.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling Budget 2022 last year, announced that one million government retirees will receive BKK of RM350 each.
Earlier, 77 contributors donated cash and goods amounting to RM1,881,180 to the Defence Ministry.
A total of 15,000 bags containing Hari Raya goodies will be distributed to ATM personnel working at the border in and outside the country, including those serving under the United Nations like in Mindanao in the southern Philippines under the International Monitoring Team.
Also present at the event were ATM chief Tan Sri Affendi Buang, army chief Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, navy chief Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany, and air force chief Datuk Seri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan. – Bernama, April 14, 2022
