AMPANG: The Defence Ministry (Mindef) will ensure the welfare of military veterans is not neglected while addressing concerns over pension disparities in line with the Court of Appeal’s ruling, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said he understood veterans’ sentiments and demands over the pension disparity but cautioned against politicising the issue or allowing emotions to overshadow the legal considerations involved.
“The ministry’s approach is to be guided by the Court of Appeal’s decision, as it is based on legal principles, facts and comprehensive arguments,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled said continued debate based on sentiment rather than the court’s judgment and relevant legal provisions could prolong the issue.
“However, what I can emphasise is that the ministry will not allow the welfare and needs of veterans to be neglected,” he said in his speech at the Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) 100th National Annual General Assembly here today.
Mohamed Khaled also acknowledged the pension gap between military personnel who retired before and after 2013.
“For example, a sergeant who retired before 2013 might receive a monthly pension of RM2,000, compared with RM3,500 for one who retired after that year, although the figures were not necessarily exact.
“We are leaving it to the government’s discretion to determine how best to help narrow this gap, and this is something we are working towards,” he said.
However, he said the current circumstances did not permit an adjustment at this time, adding that the Court of Appeal’s ruling had to be taken into account.
“I will address this issue in Parliament,” he said.
He also highlighted the growing contributions to the Tabung Pahlawan fund, which provides assistance to veterans and their families.
Collections rose from RM1.3 million in 2023/2024 to RM2.19 million in 2024/2025 and RM3.35 million in 2025/2026. The latest collection, for 2026/2027, has reached RM4.35 million.
Mohamed Khaled said the government’s commitment to veterans’ welfare was reflected in Budget 2027, which raised the allocation for the Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV ATM) to RM304 million, continuing an upward funding trend since 2022.
He added that the allocation covered various forms of assistance, including medical support, funeral benefits, housing repairs and financial aid for veterans’ children pursuing university education.
He said ensuring that assistance reached its intended recipients began with registration, adding that JHEV ATM had adopted technology to simplify registration and aid distribution.
“The services provided by the department must reach their intended recipients. The first step is registration,” he said.
Mohamed Khaled said the department also investigated complaints about aid distribution, including cases involving family disputes and the allocation of benefits.
“Our main objective is to ensure that assistance reaches the right veterans, with nobody overlooked or left behind,” he said.
He also called on PVATM to act as a strategic partner in helping the government identify and reach veterans in their respective communities.
Mohamed Khaled said veterans fell into different categories, including those receiving pensions and those who did not, stressing that eligibility for assistance depended on their service status and the applicable rules.
“Not everyone who has left the Armed Forces is officially recognised as a veteran eligible for the same benefits,” he said, citing cases involving personnel dismissed for disciplinary offences.
He said the different categories and eligibility criteria needed to be understood when assessing claims that veterans had been overlooked by the government.