Our heroes deserve all the help they can get, says Adenan

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Mawan puts money into the donation box to launch the State Warriors Fund. From right are Nansian, Spencer and Anwar.

Mawan puts money into the donation box to launch the State Warriors Fund. From right are Nansian, Spencer and Anwar.

KUCHING: The state government has pledged RM100,000 to the State Warriors Fund 2015.

Saying his administration was concerned about the welfare of veteran soldiers, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem hoped the contribution would spur more Sarawakians to contribute too.

“We have also set up a veteran affairs office to look after the welfare of our veterans. We hope to continue to contribute more towards providing a more comfortable life for veterans, particularly those underprivileged and less fortunate,” he said at the launching of the State Warriors Fund 2015 here on Saturday.

His text-of-speech was read out by Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom.

Adenan noted there were about 13,800 veterans in the state, and the number was expected to increase every year.

“Helping one another has become a culture of Sarawak. Let’s keep this up by helping our heroes. This is a meaningful event held in conjunction with Heroes’ Day, which is celebrated every July 31, but not widely known.”

He said Heroes’ Day was a special occasion for people to pay their last respects to noble individuals who defended the Land of the Hornbills.

Meanwhile, Veteran Association of Malaysian Armed Forces president, Senator Laksamana Tan Sri Datuk Setia Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor (Rtd), said the association raised RM3.6 million for the National Warriors Fund last year.

“We did not meet the target. There are 1,721 casualties of war from throughout Malaysia, and the association needs some RM1 million for the one-off contribution to these veterans.”

Anwar thus urged elected representatives in Sarawak to find ways to help these veterans.

“All MPs and ADUNs in Sarawak should care for our veterans in their respective constituencies. These veterans have fought for their motherland and deserved to be well looked after,” he said, and appealed to more individuals and corporations to contribute to the fund.

Set up on May 20, 1922, he said, the association was formerly known as Ex-Services Association of Malaya for about 30 years.

“There are 14 divisions and 247 branches in Malaysia, with 370,000 members and 160,000 veterans.”

Meanwhile, Veteran Association of Malaysian Armed Forces Sarawak Division president, Spencer Birai, urged the state government to allocate annual grants for the association to carry out activities for members.

As of last Saturday night, he said Tenaga Nasional Berhad had contributed RM50,000 to the State Warriors Fund. Other contributors included Yayasan Sarawak, Kuching Port Authority and Minister of Infrastructure Development and Communications Dato Sri Michael Manyin Jawong — RM5,000 each, Sarawak Economic Development Corporation — RM2,000, Muara Tuang assemblyman Dato Sri

Mohammad Ali Mahmud — RM1,000 and Bumiputera Consortium — RM500.

At the launch, the association handed out RM500 each to five members who are casualties of war.

Also present was Assistant Minister for Community Services Datuk Peter Nansian Ngusie.