Veterans counting on Mat Sabu to settle their woes
ALOR SETAR, May 12 (Bernama) --Problems pertaining to pension rates and medical costs will be among the issues that the Veteran Commandos Club wants Mohamad Sabu also known as Mat Sabu to resolve, once he officially assumes the post of Defence Minister in the new Pakatan Harapan government.
Club president, Sani Osman, said that the problems former armed forces personnel faced were in determining pension rates for current and future servicemen.
The other issue that they seek to address with the new minister is the incidental medical costs incurred by pensionable and non-pensionable troops.
"With respect to pension rates, I recommend a review so that there isn't too much disparity in the pension disbursements between the current and ex-servicemen," he said
"As for claims over medical procedures and equipment, it is best for the Veterans' Affairs Department of the armed forces to handle them," he said.
Such claims were being managed by the Health Ministry for almost a year causing much frustration as there were delays, added Sani when contacted by Bernama today.
He also urged Mat Sabu to continue with the Bantuan Bakti Negara, a yearly cash aid of RM1,200 introduced for non-pensionable veterans by the previous government.
Sani also said that he wanted the government to realise land grants and house lots given to veterans as enshrined in the Armed Forces Council Order of 1973.
Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said in a special media conference that Mat Sabu who is Amanah president, would take up the defence portfolio in the cabinet.
He also announced the appointment of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, as Home Minister and Finance Minister respectively.
-- BERNAMA
