KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) is unsatisfied with the proposed phased pension adjustment under Budget 2025 as it does not resolve disparities in pension amounts between veterans who retired at different dates.
PVATM president Datuk Sharudin Omar told Scoop that there is a disparity in pension amounts between veterans who retired before January 1, 2013, and those who retired after that date.
He said the pensions and calculation methods should be aligned for those who retired before that date and for those who retired after it.
As such, the Armed Forces Regulations (Pensions, Gratuities, and Other Benefits) 1982 should also be amended, Sharudin added.
“I have been advocating for this for a long time. I respect the budget presented, but the government should address the issues faced by military retirees, especially regarding the salary adjustments for those who retired before 2013.
“Imagine a retiree who retired in December 2012 – they would receive a significantly lower pension than a soldier who retired in January 2013, despite the gap being only one month.
“I have met with various parties, including the prime minister, but when the recent budget was presented, I saw that this issue remains unresolved,” Sharudin told Scoop.
In February, the Kuala Lumpur High Court allowed an originating summons filed by 50 retirees of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) against the government, the Armed Forces Council, and two others regarding the adjustment of their pensions for those who retired before January 1, 2013.
They claimed that the lack of pension adjustments constitutes a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed under Article 147 on pension gratuities in the Federal Constitution.
They argued this disparity denies the retirees their right to enjoy the same pension or increases as other ATM retirees, which they believe is a violation of their fundamental right to equality before the law in the constitution.
Their case has been taken to the Court of Appeal and will be heard in January next year.
Sharudin hoped Anwar will clarify the current situation regarding pension adjustments for former military personnel so that veterans are not left in doubt.
“The prime minister needs to address these issues. We understand that the government may have financial constraints and other considerations, but I believe everything can be resolved.
“All we want is our rights, and if possible, we would appreciate an explanation, at least a closure, so that we can gain clarity on the current situation,” he added.
The other proposal for armed forces veterans in Budget 2025, in addition to the phased pension adjustments, is a higher Cost of Living Assistance Rate for non-pensioned veterans to RM500, up from RM300 previously. – October 23, 2024
