APPEALING: (From left) Riman, Johari, Rizal, Dr George and Monday during the press conference.
KUCHING: Army veterans in the state are appealing to the government to allocate them housing lots as recognition for their contributions and sacrifices in defending the nation and its people.
They said that there was no reason why the state government could not do so when “many other states in the country could do it well”.
Sarawak Rangers Veterans Association (SRVA) pro tem chairman Lt Col (Rtd) Robert Rizal Abdullah told reporters here yesterday that it was high time that the government showed some appreciation for their past services.
He said their plight was made more pressing due to the fact that not all ex-servicemen could afford to buy land or houses upon their retirement, reiterating that many among them were living below the poverty line with a household income of less than RM720 per month.
“We heard that the Perak government had recently allocated 700 housing lots to ex-servicemen and our hope is that our government here can also do the same,” he said.
Noting that several ex-servicemen had applied for land lots in the past, he lamented that most of them found their applications rejected outright.
Citing his personal experience to the media, Rizal said he received a negative reply to his application for a housing lot he made in 2003.
“No reason was given as to why I could not get the lot. The reply I received only stated that my application ‘tidak dapat dipertimbangkan’ (cannot be considered).
“I thought my application would be given due consideration since I also attached the story of how I got shot in a contact with the communists when going after (ex-terrorist) Bong Kie Chok in the 70s but instead it was the disappointment that I got,” he lamented.
Rizal said the state government should show some seriousness in looking into the predicament faced by the veterans in view of what they had done to the state and country.
His views were shared by Major (Rtd) Michael Riman, Capt (Rtd) Dr George Kurka and Capt (Rtd) Mohd Johari Ibrahim.
Also present at the media conference yesterday was State Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) director Lt Col Monday Juhid.