KANGAR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been described as a leader who is genuinely concerned about the plight of non-pensionable veterans in the country.
Non-Pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATTBM) president Datuk Ismail Abidin said Anwar showed his sincerity about the welfare of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans long before he helmed the nation.
He said the concern had been proven through the announcement that their Living Allowance (BSH) would be increased from RM300 to RM500 a month.
“On behalf of the association, I would like to thank the Prime Minister for his announcement to increase the BSH of non-pensionable veterans, (it’s) a windfall that non-pensionable veterans have been hoping for all this time.
“Datuk Seri Anwar had been (standing in solidarity) with the ATM veterans when he was not yet prime minister, and he pledged that if he was appointed, he would help the veterans.
“Now, he has proven (his word) to help us,” he said at the PVATTBM Perlis branch office here yesterday, Bernama reported.
During the 19th Civil Service Premier Assembly (Mappa) last Friday, Anwar, who is Finance Minister, announced that BSH for non-pensionable ATM veterans would be increased to RM500 per month for those who qualify.
Ismail said it was unexpected that the veterans’ proposal to raise the BSH rate to RM500 in the National Veterans Council meeting chaired by Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on Aug 12 would get the “nod” from the Prime Minister.
“We are also grateful to the Defence Minister, who always supports the welfare of pensionable and non-pensionable ATM veterans,” said Ismail.
