SIBU: The Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Association Sarawak (PVTMS) is still in the dark about the outcome of their application to rename a road here since they submitted it to the local authority some three years ago.
PVTMS president Ling Kui Eng said until now, the status of their application remains unclear.
“We would like to draw the attention of ‘Yang Berhormat’ (Assistant Minister for Science Research and Biotechnology Dr Annuar Rapaee), Sibu Resident (Hii Chang Kee) and ‘Panglima’ (Commander of Ninth Infantry Brigade, Brigadier-General Subari Tomo) in connection with our intention to rename Pahlawan Road to Temenggong Datuk Kanang Ak Langkau Road.
“The application pertaining to the matter was forwarded to Sibu Municipal Council (SMC) in 2013, but until now, the association has not received any response concerning the matter.
“In this regard, I call for the attention and cooperation from ‘YB’, Sibu Resident and ‘Panglima’ so that the intention can be implemented as soon as possible,” Ling said in his opening remarks at PVTMS’ 5th Annual General Meeting (AGM) here yesterday.
Meanwhile, in his speech, Dr Annuar said he was slightly confused whether the road in question was ‘Pahlawan’, which meant warrior, or just ‘Pelawan’, which was just a name, having no association with that of a warrior.
“So, we have to look (at it) from the aspect of the wording; if it is ‘Pahlawan’ then, it really means ‘warrior’. But, if it is just ‘Pelawan’ then, it is just a name and not associated with warrior. That is different.”
Responding to Ling’s request, Dr Annuar also said various factors had to be taken into consideration before the renaming of existing roads or naming of new roads as when the name of a road was changed, postal addresses likewise would have to change, including those listed in identity cards.
Eventually, this could possibly change the constituencies where the persons were voting, he added.
“Nevertheless, the change of name is under the purview of the local council and I would get in touch with them to find out the state of the application,” the Nangka assemblyman said.
Earlier, Ling disclosed that PVTMS held 120 activities throughout last year. They also received 48 new members this year, bringing their membership to 2,300 people.
At the same time, the association had forwarded 60 applications for welfare assistance to Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) Sarawak.
Ling also revealed that PVTMS had successfully collected RM75,653.82 for the Warriors’ Fund last year.
He pointed out that for this year, the national Warriors’ Day celebration was held on July 31, while the national level Warriors’ Fund campaign was launched and officiated at by the Prime Minister’s wife Datin Seri Paduka Rosmah Mansor who is also the campaign’s patron.
On this, Ling urged members to give their continued cooperation to carry out the Warriors’ Fund donation campaign in the state.
Meanwhile, 12 proposals were put up during the AGM.
Among the requests were for the federal government to build an armed forces hospital in the state for veterans to enjoy Class One and Two facilities; for the state government to approve a piece of land either in Sibu, Kuching or Miri as housing areas for veterans; for the government to consider providing living assistance to all veterans aged 60 years and above; and for the state government to give monthly incentives of RM1,000 to former Iban trackers and invite them to attend the National Day celebration by bearing all the necessary costs.
Among those present were JHEV Sarawak director Lieutenant-Colonel Dunging Serit, Armed Forces Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) Sarawak manager Amli Mohd Yasih, Head of Crime Prevention Division IPD Sibu, DSP Aswandy Anis, who represented Sibu police chief ACP Saiful Bahri Abdullah, and Temenggong Stanley Geramong.