Youth movement office bearers of Armed Forces Veterans Association sworn in

KOTA KINABALU: Office bearers of the Persatuan Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM) Beliawira or Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association Sabah branch youth movement took their oath of loyalty to the association yesterday.

Led by its chairman, Datuk Raime Unggi, the PVATM Beliawira office bearers pledged their loyalty to the association before Sabah PVATM deputy head Marshid Mohd Salleh.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, Raime said that hopefully it would boost the spirit of the youths while the movement irons out some kinks in its administration and straightens out its financial status.

“We are all children of veteran members of the Malaysian armed forces and we hope to encourage more like us to join the association so that their welfare can be looked after. As the state-level Beliawira chairman, the office bearers and I will plan a stronger strategy to ensure that the welfare of the veteran armed forces’ children is looked after.

“It is our hope that the government will assist the children of the veterans who have served to protect the country and its sovereignty,” he said, and pointed out that he noticed many of the children do not do well academically so this is where the government can assist them and provide them with skills training.

According to him, he noted that some of these youths are interested in business or agriculture, adding: “I am of the opinion that the government can consider assisting them too and provide them with the same assistance rendered to other youths.

“Now, we have about 1,000 interested people and we are in the midst of registering them through the main committee of the 19 PVATM branches throughout the state. Our target is 10,000 members and I am confident with the cooperation of the main branch committee, we will be able to do this,” he said.

Raime added that members of PVATM Sabah are those who have served in the Malaysian Armed Forces and while their children will automatically be members of the youth movement, they still need to register with the Beliawira movement.

He said through the membership drive they will be able to collect data on the children of armed forces veterans and it will also make it easier for the movement to implement the plans and programs of PVATM and to disseminate information to these youths, especially about the government’s plans and programs.

Meanwhile, Marshid advised the veterans to encourage their children to join the youth movement as its role is very important to ensure the success of the association’s programs in Sabah.

On another matter, Marshid expressed his disappointment over the setting up of several other Veteran Armed Forces Associations in Sabah, like the recently launched Persatuan Pembela Veteran Angkatan Tentera.

“I am of the opinion that this should not have been allowed and the role of Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia under the Defence Ministry which approved the registration of these associations, should be reviewed.

“PVATM has been the crutch of veteran armed forces in Malaysia since 1922. It has been looking after their welfare all this while and the setting up of these associations can be seen as competing with PVATM which has been the backbone to the veterans.

“We also urge them to change their logo as it is very similar to PVATM’s logo and this can cause confusion among the members and non-members. It is better that they be called clubs and not association as it can affect PVATM’s halatuju,” he lamented.