Association wants proposed Hospital ATM be built in Sibu
SIBU: The Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Association Sarawak branch has suggested that the proposed Malaysian Armed Forces Hospital (Hospital ATM) for Sarawak be built here.
Association president Thomas Ling Kui Eng said there is a pressing need for a `Hospital ATM’ in Sarawak adding that Sibu is the most ideal place for it as it is centrally located in the state.
“We have no such hospital in Sarawak eventhough there are over 20,000 veterans in the state,” he said at a press conference here recently.
According to him, in the Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Card (BAT D 92/96), it is stated that veterans are entitled for first class or second class medical treatment.
“However, not all of the hospitals in Sarawak are providing first class and second class medical treatment,” he lamented.
Ling also proposed that a veteran be appointed a senator to oversee and look after the needs of veterans.
Other suggestions were the setting up of Sarawak Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Affair Department office at every division in the state; recruiting more Sarawakians into the Armed Forces; building a Malaysia National Defence University; a Royal Military College; fixed allocations for Sarawak Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Association; and more job opportunities for the veterans. He also proposed a special aid for veterans aged 60 and above who do not have a pension; a 20 per cent increment every year for veterans in Sarawak; a monthly special allowance for veterans who had served during the communist insurgency period; and reduction or abolition of veterans’ debts incurred when they were in service.