Fighting to live
They helped win peace for our country, but now they need the nation’s help to win their daily battle for survival.
THEY valiantly fought to defend the country against communist insurgents during the Malayan Emergency and foreign intruders during the Indonesia-Malaysia Confrontation.
The ex-servicemen had won the battle to secure national peace, but in their twilight years they are defenceless in securing their own economic survival.
Many are now living in dire straits.
Hundreds of thousands are not eligible for the armed forces pension scheme; those who are eligible, are struggling to make ends meet with a monthly pension of less than RM100.
Among them is veteran Mohd Ariffin Eusoff, 74, who is struggling to survive on an RM83 monthly pension because his asthmatic and diabetic wife Hamdiah Rasidi, 67, has lost her ability to walk after undergoing surgery several years ago.
“I have been suffering in silence for many years. But I can’t take the financial pressure any more,” he says.
Mohd Ariffin, who was medically boarded out of the force in 1962 after an accident in Sarawak, cannot rely on his three children because they too are struggling to survive on their own low income.
The Welfare Department only recently approved an RM300 monthly welfare aid for his disabled wife.
“The decision-makers should put themselves in our shoes to understand what we are going through. It is tough surviving on few hundred ringgit,” he laments.
Another veteran Raja Sulaiman Raja Abdul Wahid, 72, went on an ambush mission in 1965 against foreign intruders to secure Sarawak borders during the Confrontation which broke out as a result of Indonesia’s opposition to the formation of Malaysia.
“We started our 25km-long journey on foot at 4am, trekking hills and braving leech-infested swamps to arrive at our side of the border near Kalimantan before sunset,” he recalls.
His team, led by a British captain, took position on a hill and attacked the intruders after spending a night drenched by rain.
“In that one hour mission, more than 200 perished. There were no casualties on our side as we ambushed them in poor visibility, when the valley was shrouded in mist,” he adds.
Raja Sulaiman, who left the armed forces in 1973, is not eligible for pension. Only those who have served a minimum 21 years are eligible for the armed forces pension scheme.
“I am now doing odd jobs,” says Raja Sulaiman who has nine daughters aged between seven and 51.
Raja Sulaiman says they are deprived of a level playing field with the rising cost of living.
Another veteran Ahmed Yahya @ Jahaya, 79, who joined the British army in 1956 when Malaya was still under colonial rule, is also feeling defenceless in the fight for his economic survival.
Ahmed, who was stationed in Sarawak during the Confrontation, is also not eligible for the armed forces pension scheme. He is depending on his civil service pension – amounting up to RM200 a month – as he had served as an ambulance driver for 21 years after leaving the force in 1971.
“I am financially drained taking care of my wife (Hasnah Montel, 65) who has Alzheimer’s disease.
“I need about three disposable diapers a day. The cheapest available is RM2.70 a piece,” says Ahmed, who has been taking care of his sick wife for five years.
To make matters worse, he adds, he is also losing his eyesight.
Ahmed, who has 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, says he cannot rely on his five children because they are not financially well-off either.
Fellow veteran Jaafar Mohamed Yusof, 79, hopes the Government will provide a special scheme for those who had served during the most difficult period in Malaysian history.
Jaafar is now relying on his RM350 monthly civil service pension, having served as a veterinary department labourer for 15 years after leaving the force.
“I hope the authorities will look into helping elderly veterans like me who had served during the Emergency to help us survive the economic battle that is taking a toll on us,” says Jaafar, who is not eligible for the armed forces pension scheme as he has not served the minimum 21 years required.
SPECIAL kiosks will be set up nationwide to sell rice and other essential goods to armed forces veterans at low prices – cheaper by 10% to 15% than market price.
It is part of the Jihad Ekonomi (economic fight) initiative undertaken by the Association of NonPensionable Armed Forces Veterans Malaysia (PVTTB) to help fellow ex-servicemen who are struggling to make ends meet as rising costs of living take a toll on them.
PVTTB adviser Dr Ibrahim Ashaari (pic) says they will set up kiosks all over Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak to ensure ex-servicemen have access to relatively cheaper grocery items like rice, cooking oil, sugar and flour.
“We are grateful to suppliers for assisting us. We only requested for cheaper rice, oil, and flour, but they offered to give even more. A supplier has even offered to give us a whole range of soy sauce products at cheaper than market price.
“They want to give armed forces veterans something in appreciation for what they have done for the country,” says the ex-serviceman
Dr Ibrahim hopes to launch the programme before the Malaysian Armed Forces Day celebration on Sept 16.
In the meantime, the association is also forming an Agricultural Brigade to assist non-pensionable veterans involved in animal husbandry and farming activities.
PVTTB will act as marketing agents, he tells.
“We are rounding up at least 1,000 cattle for the Hari Raya Haji celebration.
“State and federal agencies as well as corporate sectors that need a supply of livestock during the festive period can contact us.
“This is part of our jihad (struggle) to help fellow ex-servicemen eke a living,” he says, adding they are also looking into marketing livestock for Aqiqah (sacrifice offering for newborns) ceremonies to welcome birth of babies.
Veterans are also encouraged to tap into the fish farming business.
The association has also implemented a Jihad Kebajikan (welfare) programme to assist veterans in need and Jihad Pendidikan (education) to assist the offspring of ex-servicemen in securing places at public higher learning institutes.
PVTTB Penang president LAC (Rtd) Abu Hasan Abd Malik says they have gone on a mission to seek, defend and assist veterans in need.
“There are about 300,000 veterans who are not eligible for the armed forces pension scheme.
“Most of them are facing financial hardship. We hope the authorities would provide assistance, especially for the elderly veterans who had served during the Emergency period.
“There are not many of them left. Help them while they are still alive.”
He cites the case of a former veteran who had struggled to survive until his death.
“His name was Ahmad Baharom. He passed away not too long ago, when he was 83. I cannot forget how he kept saying that he would probably not get any financial assistance till the day he dies.
“He was right. I am driven to tears every time I look at his picture – we did not have the resources to help him while he was still alive,” he says with regret, noting, “Ahmad Baharom had hoped for the success of the Jihad Ekonomi programme to assist elderly veterans in need.” — Sira Habibu