Anwar (left) presents the one-off payment to Nigeng as others look on.
BINTULU: Only 4,899 army veterans have registered with the Veterans Association of Malaysian Armed Forces (PVATM) in Sarawak though more than 10,000 of them have retired from the Malaysian Armed Forces in the state.
Thus, PVATM launched the ‘Veterans Tours’ this year in an effort to identify and locate former members of the Armed Forces in the state, said its president Senator Admiral (retired) Tan Sri Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor.
He said Sarawak is the first state in the country where they will visit the interior areas to locate former military personnel, especially those with disability (OKU).
The first visit was to Rh Banyang Mile 8, Bintulu-Miri Road, where the association donated a wheelchair and RM500 one-off payment to Nyeging @ Nigeng Japoh, 73, a former member of First Battalion Ranger Regiment who was paralysed since eight years ago.
“After this we plan to go to Kapit and meet the veterans there. We felt that we would like to distribute donations raised during the Warriors Day fundraising to our veteran OKUs,” he told reporters after visiting Nigeng yesterday.
He said though the contribution is small, it shows people’s appreciation for their sacrifices in safeguarding the country.
Meanwhile, Anwar said they will always interact with all branch leaders because the leaders are the bridge between the veterans and PVATM.
“This is also part of our initiative to increase our membership throughout the country and I urge all Armed Forces veterans to register as our members.
“Now the veterans associations or clubs have been taken over by the Veterans Affairs Department,” he added.
According to him, as the umbrella body of all veterans associations and clubs, PVATM would be responsible for coordinating resolutions related to the interest and welfare of all armed forces veterans.
“Last year at a round-table meeting we came up with 12 resolutions to improve the livelihood and welfare of our veterans to the Ministry of Defence and 10 of the resolutions had been approved,” he said.
He added that the approval showed that the Ministry of Defence and the government were concerned about the welfare of Armed Forces veterans.
He revealed that PVATM and various government agencies will be organising the national-level ‘Entrepreneurship Carnival’ themed ‘From Warriors to Entrepreneurs’ specially for veterans.
He said the carnival would be held in Kubah Ria in Kuching, most likely in early April this year.
Besides the Malaysian Armed Forces which will display their military assets, various departments and agencies have been invited to conduct a jobs fair and those interested to join the Malaysian Armed Forces are welcomed, he added.
At the moment, Anwar said PVATM was in the process of updating its membership throughout the country.
He said presently 68 veterans had registered with PVATM Bintulu branch.
Among those present during the visit were PVATM deputy president Captain (retired) Shahruddin Omar, PVATM Sarawak chief Roland Demong Radin, Veterans Affairs Department state director Lt Colonel Dunging Serit and other heads of branches and committee members.