Government "Go Slow" In Tabling The Akta Veteran causes 366195 Ex-Armed Forces Personnel Not Entitled for the RM500 Special Payment

Kuching
Friday, 27th August 2010

Due to Barisan Nasional "Go Slow" in tabling the Akta Veteran, more than 360000 non-pensioners ex-armed forces personnel will not be eligible for the RM500 Raya Special payment.

Yesterday PM Najib announced that the government will pay  the 1.24 million civil servants and 590,000 government pensioners a Hari raya special payment of RM 500 each. The amount eventhough not that big but it will have a great meaning especially to the muslims who will be celebrating the Hari Raya which is expected to falls on 11 September 2010.

But for the non-pensioner of the ex-armed forces personnel  of more than 360000 in number, they will not be paid with the special gift as the Akta Veteran (Ex-Armed Forces Act) has not been approved by the parliament.

The Motive Why the Tabling Of Akta Veteran Announced   During 
the Bagan Pinang By-Election ?


The tabling of Akta Veteran was first announced by the government during the Bagan Pinang By-Election on 11 Oct 2010 where the BN candidate Tan Sri Isa Samad defeated  Zulkefly Mohamad Omar from pakatan Rakyat-PAS. Based on the announcement, the act was supposed to be table by end of last year or the latest by early of this year will not only benefit the members of ex-armed forces who had completed their 21 years services but also those who served less than 21 years who are currently non-pensioners.
But due to government slow action, the act had not been tabled thus more than 360000 ex-armed forces will not be paid with the RM500 special hari raya gift.

Government Must Expedite the Tabling of Akta Veteran

Most of the ex-armed  forces especially from the other rank are living under the poverty line, and most of them work as a security guard. The government must not slowing down the tabling of the act so that the livelihood of the ex-servicemen are well taking care off  by the government. To expedite the tabling of the act, the government must consider the sacrifices   made by these ex-servicemen while they were still in service.

On behalf of all the non-pension ex-armed forces, I am urging the government to expedite the tabling and therefore implementing the Akta Veteran for the benefits of the 360000 ex-armed forces members nationwide irrespective of their political beliefs.

Mupok Aku
 
AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN