Don’t depend solely on govt handouts, army veteran associations told
KUCHING: Army veteran associations have been told to be less dependent on government grants but to be more creative in finding ways to raise funds for their members.
First Division Infantry Commander Major General Datuk Stephen Mundaw said all PVATM chapters should aim to not rely solely on handouts from their local elected representatives, but to generate their own income.
Speaking at an aid presentationcumofficial opening of PVATM Balai Ringin chapter’s office yesterday, Mundaw suggested local army veteran chapters form their own cooperatives and engage in activities such as agro farming.
“There is a lot of potential in modern agro farming and handicraft-making that the cooperatives can choose to engage in,” he said, adding that the Balai Ringin chapter should form a cooperative and operate from its office building, which is spacious and strategically located.
“Now that you have a huge office building, you have to think of overhead expenses and maintenance cost. You have to have creative ways of getting income. You cannot be depending solely on government grants and handouts,” he pointed out.
Mundaw also tasked the chapter to locate veterans wherever they may be, saying the matter should be made a priority because the army must ensure their welfare is taken care of.
Believing that there were still many veterans out there who had yet to register with chapters nearest to them, he said: “Look for them, for all you know some are bedridden and are unable to get in touch with you. Therefore, it is your duty to locate them and register them.”
Mundaw also assured army veterans that the government was continuing to find ways to make life for retired soldiers comfortable.
Some 30 veterans with disabilities or partial disabilities, as well as widows of veterans, received cash aid from the PVATM Balai Ringin chapter.
After handing over the cash aid, Mundaw proceeded to hand over furniture pieces to the chapter, to be used at its newly- acquired office building – the former Balai Ringin Public Works Department Depot office.
PVATM Balai Ringin chairman Lawa Ganyoi, PVATM Sarawak chairman Roland Demong, State Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) director Lt Col Dunging Serit, its former director Lt Col Monday Juhid, and PVATM Sarawak administrative officer Garip Sunang were among those present at the ceremony.