KUALA LUMPUR – Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to immediately resolve long-standing issues involving the country’s army veterans.
Following a protest by at least 500 veterans at the Taman Tugu National Monument earlier today, Anwar said the issues raised by the veterans during the rally have also been tabled by Pakatan Harapan leaders in Parliament.
He said the voices of the veterans should not be ignored as they have made sacrifices for the country.
“I am following the developments on the peaceful assembly of the ATM (Malaysian Armed Forces) veterans today,” the PKR president said in a brief statement.
“It is apparent that they have no other choice but to demand their rights (in a peaceful assembly) after several failed attempts to gain the attention of the Defence Ministry.”
Anwar, who is also Port Dickson MP, also reiterated the opposition’s calls for the ministry to address the grouses of the veterans as soon as possible.
The veterans held a peaceful assembly to issue several demands, such as improved pension schemes and other complaints that have been brought to the ministry over the last eight years.
Their three main demands also included the provision of pensions to veterans who have yet to receive their retirement salaries.
The veterans also sought amnesty for veterans who received dishonourable discharges due to disciplinary action, which will then allow them to be recognised as veterans and receive pensions. – The Vibes, June 6, 2022
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