KUALA LUMPUR: The recruitment of military veterans into the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) is helping strengthen security at national entry points, including airports, while reducing training requirements and costs, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said today.
He said former Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) personnel already possessed the skills and operational experience needed for security duties, allowing them to continue serving the country after retirement.
“Since the beginning of this year, we have been absorbing our military veterans into AKPS to safeguard the country’s entry points, including our airports.
“One of the benefits of AKPS recruiting veterans is that we can shorten the training process, which can take up to six months.
“They already possess the expertise, and this can certainly help save government funds,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
Adly was responding to a supplementary question from RSN Rayer (PH-Jelutong), who proposed employing former military personnel in airport security amid concerns over drug smuggling into and out of Malaysia, including through major entry points such as Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
Rayer said many veterans remained capable of performing security duties, citing older security personnel working at airports in Singapore as an example.
He stressed that veterans could continue contributing to national security after retirement.
Adly said many ATM personnel, particularly those in the other ranks, completed their military service at around 40 to 42 years old, making opportunities for second careers important.
“The majority of our armed forces veterans, particularly those in the other ranks, complete their service at around 40 to 42 years old.
“They have already retired by then, so naturally they need a second career,” he said.
The AKPS initiative was launched in April, with an initial intake of 48 veterans, comprising 31 stationed at KLIA, 14 at Port Klang and three at AKPS headquarters.
Adly said the Defence Ministry was also helping veterans transition into defence-related industries, particularly former air force personnel with technical expertise. Employment opportunities were also available under the community ranger programme.
“There are many benefits beyond cost savings, but I believe the most important is their expertise in safeguarding our country’s security and sovereignty,” he said.
Earlier, Nordin Ahmad Ismail (PN-Lumut) raised concerns that some state authorities were unaware of smaller veteran associations representing former navy, air force and army personnel, potentially affecting the distribution of assistance.
Adly said the ministry was discussing plans to consolidate some of the more than 300 registered veteran associations into about 100 under several umbrella organisations.
“We are discussing at the National Veterans Council how some of these associations can be consolidated under several umbrella organisations to better coordinate assistance schemes,” he said.
He added that the ministry was considering increasing financial contributions to veteran associations.
On federal-state cooperation, Adly said there was currently no specific policy or formal arrangement governing veteran affairs, although several states had introduced their own initiatives.
These included Pahang’s RM500 health cards for 5,000 eligible military veterans aged 60 and above, while Johor was coordinating assistance through the Veteran Integrated Benefit System (VIBES) 2.0.