keratan akhbar 15 hingga 23 september 2016 bil akhbar hari

KERATAN AKHBAR

15 hingga 23 September 2016

Bil Akhbar Hari/Tarikh Muka Surat

1. Borneo Post Online – jangan

terpedaya Propaganda T5P Khamis / 15

September 2016 Online

2. Utusan Malaysia Online – Nahasiswa

UTM bantu isi Tabung Pahlawan. Khamis / 15


3. Ipoh Encho – Appreciate how

Merdeka has been defended. Jumaat / 16


4.

The Star Online – Injured army captain refused to leave his men behind.

Jumaat / 16


5. Harian Metro Online – Sarjan Hassan

Pejuang Terbilang. Sabtu / 17


6. Utusan Malaysia Online – Bekas

tentera rayu pencen lebih tinggi. Isnin / 19 September

2016 Online

7.

The Star Online – Ex – servicemen highly trained and better equipped to guard schools.

Isnin / 19 September

2016 Online

8. The Star Online – Move to use army Veterans as security guards.

Isnin / 19 September

2016 Online

9. Harian Metro online – LTAT bina 2,000 kediaman mampu milik.

Selasa / 20


10.

The Star Online – MinDef seek more funds to house personnel and veterans.

Selasa / 20


11. The Sun Daily – 21 – years service proposal for soldiers.

Rabu / 21 September

2016 Online

12. Harian Metro Online – Kaji skim pencen tentera.

Rabu / 21 September

2016 Online

13.

Utusan Malaysia Online –

Kementerian Pertahanan utamakan rumah anggota, Veteran ATM.

Rabu / 21 September

2016 Online

14. Berita Harian Online – Skim Pesara

Tentera dikaji. Rabu / 21 September

2016 Online

15. Borneo Post Online – 21 – year

service for Soldier. Khamis / 22


16. Utusan Malaysia Online – Cadangan

berkhidmat 21 tahun. Khamis / 22


Jangan terperdaya propaganda T5P

Veteran ATM dinasihat jauhi jerayawara di Dewan Suarah Sibu hari ini

// Oleh Reno Benjamin //

SIBU: Persatuan Veteran Tentera Malaysia Negeri Sarawak (PVTMS) dan

Persatuan Bekas Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (PBTLDM) Cawangan Negeri

Sarawak menasihati semua veteran ATM khususnya ahli PVTMS dan PBTLDM agar

tidak melibatkan diri dengan satu jerayawara anjuran Tuntutan 5 Perkara (T5P) yang

dijadual 15 September (hari ini) di Dewan Suarah di sini.

Presiden PVTMS, Thomas Ling Kui Eng menyatakan, penganjur program

mempunyai agenda politik tersembunyi dan untuk kepentingan peribadi selain

persatuan tersebut tidak didaftar di bawah Akta Veteran 2012.

―Persatuan tersebut berselindung di sebalik alasan berjuang dengan propaganda

Tuntutan 5 Perkara (T5P) untuk veteran ATM, dan mendakwa kerajaan

mengabaikan kebajikan veteran ATM,‖ ujarnya dalam satu kenyataan, semalam.

Jelasnya, T5P kononnya menuntut kenaikan pencen pesara veteran selaras

kenaikan gaji semasa serta menuntut kerajaan memberi imbuhan RM6,000 setahun

kepada veteran tidak berpencen.

Selain itu, mereka juga mahu hak mewariskan pencen veteran pesara kepada waris

terdekat selepas kematian pesara terutamanya isteri dinikahi selepas tamat

perkhidmatan manakala kelayakan pencen terbitan harus sepanjang hayat.

Turut dituntut ialah penyeragaman pencen, pencen hilang upaya (PHU) dan exgratia

untuk semua veteran tentera hilang upaya (VTHU), perang tanpa mengira tahun

akhir perkhidmatan.

Mereka turut menuntut kerajaan menyediakan sebidang tanah (atau rumah mampu

milik/rumah kos rendah) kepada veteran tentera selepas persaraan.

Thomas menyatakan bahawa semua perkara tersebut telah pun termasuk dalam

resolusi disuarakan serta dibincangkan dan diterima Menteri Pertahanan untuk

diambil tindakan semasa Sidang Meja Bulat Veteran 1 Malaysia yang diadakan di

Hotel Royale Chulan pada 14 Jun 2015.

―Kerajaan memerlukan masa mengkaji semua usul yang dibangkitkan pada

persidangan meja bulat itu memandangkan banyak perkara perlu diambil kira oleh

pihak berkuasa,‖ katanya.

Beliau turut mempersoal mengapa presiden atau wakil daripada persatuan tidak

menghadirkan diri semasa Sidang Meja Bulat diadakan sekiranya mereka

benarbenar ikhlas memperjuangkan kebajikan para veteran ATM.

Apabila perkara tersebut dibangkitkan persatuan tersebut katanya, ini menunjukkan

bahawa mereka langsung tidak mengetahui perkara yang dibangkit.

―Persatuan tersebut juga tidak mempunyai rekod jelas. Kita tidak mengetahui jumlah

ahli serta maklumat lain berhubung persatuan mereka.

―Mereka juga gagal menunjuk resit serta rekod urusan kewangan persatuan semasa

ditanya oleh AJK Pusat. Wang pendaftaran ahli juga tidak dimasukkan di dalam

akaun Pahlawan, sebaliknya akaun lain,‖ katanya.

Justeru, Thomas menggesa ahli PVTMS serta veteran ATM Negeri Sarawak supaya

mengambil tindakan bijak untuk tidak melibatkan diri dengan propaganda dibawa

persatuan berkenaan.

Beliau percaya bahawa PVTMS sendiri sudah melaksanakan tanggungjawab yang

sepatutnya dalam menjaga dan memperjuangkan nasib ahli-ahli. ―Semasa

Mesyuarat Agung Tahunan lepas, persatuan turut memajukan sebanyak 12 usul

untuk dipertimbang kerajaan demi penambahbaikan dalam menjaga kebajikan

veteran ATM.

―Persatuan sedang mempersiapkan kertas kerja berhubung usul-usul tersebut untuk

diserahkan kepada Menteri Pertahanan untuk tindakan selanjutnya.

Selain itu, PVTMS juga memajukan sebanyak 16 perkara demi kepentingan veteran

ATM semasa Majlis Hi-tea bersama Menteri Pertahanan di Hotel Kingwood, Sibu

pada 26 Mac 2016,‖ katanya.

Justeru, beliau menasihati semua ahli PVTMS dan PBTLDM Negeri Sarawak

mahupun veteran Sarawak agar jangan mudah untuk ditipu lagi dan tidak

membuang masa, tenaga serta wang untuk menghadirkan diri ke jerayawara yang

akan dijalankan itu.

―Jangan membiarkan diri dipergunakan oleh pihakpihak yang tidak

bertanggungjawab untuk mencapai kepentingan peribadi mereka sendiri,‖ tegas

Thomas.

Mahasiswa UTM bantu isi Tabung Pahlawan

Pelepasan Kembara Amal Anak Merdeka anjuran Mahasiswa Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

sempena sambutan Hari Malaysia di Bandar Utama Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, semalam.

KUALA LUMPUR 14 Sept. – Mahasiswa Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM)

menganjurkan Program Kembara Amal Anak Merdeka (Patriot’16) sempena

sambutan Hari Malaysia bagi mengisi Tabung Pahlawan Persatuan Veteran

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM).

Program itu yang disertai sebanyak 180 peserta terdiri daripada konvoi 66 buah

motosikal berkuasa tinggi daripada Gagasan Anak Malaysia Bikers (GAMB) dan 80

mahasiswa UTM yang akan menaiki bas.

Pengarah Program Patriot’16, Muhammad Athir Adib Zulfakor, 22, berkata,

program itu bermula hari ini dan akan berakhir pada 18 September ini.

Menurutnya, konvoi itu akan menjelajah enam buah negeri sepanjang program

empat hari itu dengan lokasi pertama ialah Pulau Pinang.

―Semasa berada di Pulau Pinang kami akan melawat rumah veteran ATM di sana.

―Kami bekerjasama dengan Giat Mara untuk melakukan kerja amal seperti

menyelenggara dan membaik pulih rumah veteran ATM yang dilawati.

―Sepanjang program itu, kami juga akan meminta masyarakat untuk menyumbang

kepada PVATM,‖ katanya ketika ditemui pada majlis pelepasan konvoi berkenaan

oleh Ahli Parlimen Setiawangsa, Datuk Ahmad Fauzi Zahari, Ketua Pengarah Biro

Tatanegara (BTN), Datuk Ibrahim Saad dan Timbalan Naib Canselor Hal Ehwal

Mahasiswa dan Alumni UTM, Datuk Dr. Mohd. Ismail Abd Aziz, di sini hari ini.

Tambahnya, kumpulan mahasiswa tersebut akan turut menghasilkan sebuah

dokumentari Unsung Hero yang akan menceritakan pengalaman pahit getir enam

veteran ATM sewaktu bertugas sebagai anggota tentera dahulu.

Sementara itu, Mohd. Ismail berkata, matlamat program berkenaan adalah untuk

menanam semangat nasionalisme dan patriotisme dalam kalangan mahasiswa.

Menurutnya, peserta program itu akan melakukan kaji selidik mengenai semangat

patriotisme dalam kalangan mahasiswa dan rakyat Malaysia sepanjang program itu

yang akan melalui kawasan sejauh 2,074.7 kilometer.

Seorang peserta paling muda menyertai program itu, yang merupakan mahasiswi

daripada Fakulti Kejuruteraan Kimia dan Tenaga UTM, Norhamizan Fauzi, 20,

berkata, dia begitu teruja menyertai program berkenaan selepas mendapat ajakan

daripada rakan-rakan.

Appreciate How Merdeka Has Been Defended

Since the conclusion of the Rio Olympics, so much has been said and written about

our Olympians, who have returned with silver and bronze medals. Yes, they deserve

all the accolades and rewards as heroes in an international sports arena.

Let us not begrudge them. They, as well as others who failed to win medals, have

made great sacrifices in training over the years with the sole aim of bringing honour

to Malaysia.

But I agree with retired Lt. Gen. Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Abdul Aziz that ―we should not

look at Merdeka from a perspective of gaining but also how we defended it.‖

―We shed a lot of blood and lost a lot of heroes to defend this Merdeka,‖ added Tan

Sri Abdul Ghani in his letter published on September 5 in the New Straits Times in

conjunction with National Day.

He referred to the long drawn combat against the communist insurgents and

intruders of the Indonesian Confrontation.

―Our heroes who gave life and limb to protect the nation had also won medals. They

are theSeri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, Pingat Panglima Gagah Berani and Pingat

Tentera Udara.

―For this bravery and gallantry, they are given a monthly lifetime pension of RM2000,

RM1500 and RM1000 respectively.

―True, the athletes had shed blood, sweat and tears but we, too, shed blood from

wounds, sweated out waiting in ambush and shed tears as we watched the bodies of

our fallen comrades being buried. Their wives became widows and children became

orphans overnight.‖

As a journalist, who had covered security operations in Perak and South Thailand

from 1973 to after the signing of the Peace Accord in December, 1989, I know how

the veterans feel about the need to continuously remind the young generations of

how their determination and sacrifices had brought about the prevailing peace and

harmony in the country.

I had tagged along with the members of the security forces in most of their

operations. In many cases, I had followed them right to their forward bases in the

jungle and shared with them many of their memorable moments.

Those years had made me feel very much a part of the members of the security

forces even though I was not their comrade-in-arms.

Although the troops of Commonwealth countries had fought alongside us, our young

Malaysian armed forces and police had, very much on their own after ―Merdeka‖,

took over the heavy responsibility of protecting the country.

The dedication and sacrifices of those men and women of all races and religions,

many with their lives permanently crippled, must always be looked upon with pride

as we strive to mould a united Malaysian nation.

Bearing this in mind, I decided to write a memoir on the Turbulent Years in Perak

and as well as a number of commentaries calling for more monuments to be

dedicated to members of the security forces and civilians be set up, particularly

along the East-West Highway connecting Perak with Kelantan.

Having such monuments located along the highway will not only show a national

gratitude to those men and women who had, in spite of a major threat from the

communist insurgents, completed the highway and the Temenggor Dam.

It will also give travellers an opportunity to take a break and read about the various

episodes of bravery by members of security forces and civilian workers.

It is heartening to note that the armed forces had built a small monument on the

western end of the Banding Bridge along the highway.

It does not matter whether the armed forces had taken the cue from me, or on its

own. The fact is, a monument, though small, had been constructed to show the

nation’s gratitude.

And along the highway, a large granite boulder marks the location of its construction

site where the communist insurgents on May 24, 1974, raided and destroyed 39

bulldozers and tractors left at the site over night.

It remains as a grim reminder of the highway and hydro-electric projects, which were

completed despite the serious threat.

Many Malaysians, who were born in post Merdeka years, know very little about how

close we were to losing our freedom.

―Now I know why my father sent me abroad to study,‖ a leading local entrepreneur

once told me after reading my book – ―The Turbulent Years in Perak – A Memoir‖.

He said he did not realise the situation posed by the communist insurgents in the

country then was so serious that many wealthy families sent their children overseas

for their safety.

―Thanks to the security forces, I could return to a peaceful and harmonious country

after completing my studies,‖ he added.

Now, with the threat coming from IS, an Islamic militant group, we are once again

turning to our security forces to contain the situation. They have responded with a

number of successes.

Injured army captain refused to leave his men

behind

THE army captain collapsed after an enemy bullet punctured his lung during a

mission to fight a group of communist insurgents. Several of his men were injured as

well.

Other soldiers quickly radioed for help in the jungle fringes east of Gopeng. The

helicopter flew in, but Capt Patrick Wong Sing Nang refused to leave until all his

injured subordinates had been evacuated.

―If I die, then I die. But my men must not die,‖ said the man, now Major (rtd) Wong,

69.

Wong said he had led a troop of about 100 men to flush out the enemy in the 1977

incident.

Just before daybreak on Boxing Day, Wong’s company inadvertently set off an

enemy bomb, alerting the communist group that was on a hill.

A fierce firefight ensued in the next half hour, which saw the enemy withdraw but

with three of Wong’s men and himself wounded.

He later underwent an operation for a punctured lung and a lacerated diaphragm and

liver.

His valour and dedication won him a Kepujian Perutusan Keberanian gallantry

medal.

Another army man who put his life on the line many times for the country was Major

(rtd) Chin Chee Foo, 71, an expert in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

Trained in Britain’s Royal Military College of Science and School of Ammunition,

Chin was then one of only three trained personnel the country could call on when a

bomb had to be defused.

He was so good at his job that he was asked to set up an Ammunition Training Wing

in Batu Arang.

Datuk Capt (rtd) Liew Siong Sing said the contributions of such veterans should not

be forgotten.

―They are real anak-anak Malaysia,‖ said Liew, who is also EcoWorld Foundation

chief executive officer.

Sarjan Hassan pejuang terbilang

Sarjan Hassan

Tidak ramai mengenali sejarah sebenar Sarjan Hassan terutama dalam kalangan

generasi muda masa kini yang umumnya hanya mengetahuinya berdasarkan filem

lakonan Allahyarham Tan Sri P Ramlee mengisahkan seorang anggota Askar

Melayu berjuang menentang penjajah Jepun di Tanah Melayu.

Hakikat sebenar individu bernama Sarjan Hassan ini pejuang terbilang yang pernah

dilahirkan Askar Melayu kerana kejayaannya membunuh 11 anggota komunis ketika

menjadi ketua seksyen dan platun dalam Batalion Empat Rejimen Askar Melayu

Diraja (RAMD) bermula 1950 hingga 1953.

Bagi memastikan orang ramai terutama rakyat Negeri Sembilan dapat mengenali

lebih dekat pejuang tanah air itu Lembaga Muzium Negeri Sembilan (LMNS)

mengadakan pameran Sarjan Hassan: Pahlawan Terbilang, di Muzium Negeri

Sembilan, Jalan Sungai Ujong Seremban.

Pameran percuma bermula 16 Ogos lalu diadakan sempena sambutan Hari

Kebangsaan ke-59, 31 Ogos lalu. Sepanjang pameran itu, orang ramai boleh

mendapatkan pelbagai maklumat mengenai Sarjan Hassan bermula kelahirannya

sehingga pembabitan beliau dalam pasukan keselamatan negara dan kejayaannya

membunuh komunis.

Bekas tentera rayu pencen lebih tinggi

SUNGAI SIPUT 18 Sept. - Seorang bekas anggota tentera meminta kerajaan

mengkaji semula bayaran pencen dan imbuhan yang lebih munasabah untuk bekas

anggota pasukan keselamatan negara.

Syed Othman Syed Omar

Leftenan Kolonel (B) Syed Othman Syed Omar, 63, berkata, bekas anggota tentera

yang berjuang mempertahankan negara terutama ketika menentang pengganas

komunis perlu mendapat pembelaan sewajarnya.

Menurutnya, ada antara mereka yang mengalami kecacatan kekal semasa

bertempur dengan musuh, wajar mendapat bayaran pencen atau sara hidup yang

lebih baik.

―Ada bekas tentera yang cedera terkena tembakan senjata musuh atau terkena

jerangkap samar sehingga hilang anggota badan seperti kaki dan tangan dan hanya

mampu terlantar.

―Saya sendiri hilang penglihatan akibat cedera di mata ketika bertempur. Mereka ini

perlukan bayaran pencen yang lebih baik untuk menampung kehidupan seharian,‖

katanya ketika ditemui, di sini baru-baru ini.

Syed Othman mendakwa ribuan bekas anggota tentera seperti Rejimen Askar

Melayu Diraja (RAMD), pasukan peninjau, anggota polis dan pasukan keselamatan

lain mengalami kecederaan ketika bertempur atau semasa menjalankan tugas.

Ujarnya, ada antara mereka yang dikategorikan sebagai orang kurang upaya (OKU)

hanya menerima pencen tidak sampai RM100 sebulan.

―Saya merupakan antara bekas anggota tentera yang mengalami kecacatan, namun

bernasib baik kerana berjaya menyambung pelajaran ke luar negara.

―Tetapi rakan-rakan saya lain hanya bergantung kepada bayaran pencen yang kecil

untuk menanggung anak dan isteri. Perbelanjaan perubatan mereka perlu diberikan

perhatian kerana dengan bayaran pencen yang kecil sudah tentu tidak mencukupi,‖

katanya.

Ex-servicemen highly trained and better

equipped to guard schools

PETALING JAYA: Retired armed forces personnel could serve as guards in schools

to help address bullying, drug peddling, smoking and other social woes.

Viper Force Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Mohd Rashid Musa said they would

discuss with the Education Ministry on the possibility of engaging the veterans to

help guard the schools apart from helping secure the perimeters against negative

influences.

―Now that we have an arrangement with PVTTB (Non-Pensionable Armed Forces

Veterans Malaysia), we have a ready pool of resources who are willing to serve as

guards.

―And they are no ordinary guards who basically focus on guarding physical settings.

They are highly trained personnel who are capable of providing overall security inclu-

ding feeding information to the relevant authorities to facilitate swift action,‖ he said.

Viper Force and PVTTB are expected to endorse a Memorandum of Understanding

(MoU) today that will enable the company to tap into the vast pool of ex-servicemen

to provide armed guard services.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had rejected a

proposal by the Education Ministry to utilise Rela members to help maintain security

in schools.

Rela personnel must first be absorbed as manpower of security companies before

they could serve as security guards, he said.

Mohd Rashid said having highly trained guards would be beneficial to the clients and

the public, as they could also handle multiple threat risks.

―Security guards should not be regarded as second-class workers, as their job is

important in helping ensure security and safety.

―Security guards can be the eyes and ears to help authorities address criminal

threats in the neighbourhood and workplace,‖ he added.

Mohd Rashid said Viper currently provided security services for banks, warehouses

and condominiums among others besides full protection services for VIPs.

―The door is now open for us to obtain a constant supply of guards from the pool of

non-pensionable armed forces veterans,‖ he said.

Mohd Rashid said the association had an impressive pool of ex-servicemen aged

between 30 and 40 whose skills and services could be utilised for the benefit of

society and the nation.

―People should be willing to pay more for quality service. Security should never be

compromised,‖ he said.

Previously, security companies had employed ex-servicemen on an ad hoc basis.

Move to use army veterans as security guards

Maintaining security: Filepic showing a guard manning a checkpoint at the entrance to a residential area.

PETALING JAYA: The Non-Pensionable Armed Forces Veterans Malaysia (PVTTB)

is ready to tap into a pool of about 50,000 veterans under the age of 60 to help

reduce the country’s over-dependence on foreign guards through its MoU with Viper

Force Sdn Bhd.

PVTTB adviser Dr Ibrahim Ashaari said the association also strongly believed that

security matters should be handled by Malaysians in view of far-reaching

implications on national security,

Former Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan founded Viper in 2011,

after retiring from the police force.

The MoU handing over ceremony will be held at 10am today at Viper office in Kelana

Mall here.

Dr Ibrahim said that local armed forces veterans would be better qualified to take up

security guard jobs than foreign ones because they were already trained and highly

disciplined.

―And most importantly, they are Malaysians. We do not want our country to be

trapped in problems caused by immigration that can pose a threat to national

security,‖ he added.

Dr Ibrahim said the MoU signing was part of the association’s economic initiative to

assist retired non-pensionable armed forces soldiers.

―The armed forces veterans are strategic reserve of human resources for the

Government. They are ready to render services anytime the nation needs them,‖ he

said.

Dr Ibrahim said the MoU would set a new standard for security guards as the

association was sourcing trained human resources who could offer better quality

services.

―Viper is also offering better salary packages. Generally, the starting pay of RM1,700

would be increased to RM2,100 upon confirmation,‖ he said.

Musa said jobs would be offered to the veterans on a contract basis.

―These veterans can also contribute towards the overall security of the country, as

we will also be sharing intelligence with the authorities to help strengthen national

security,‖ he added.

LTAT bina 2,000 kediaman mampu milik

MODEL perumahan yang dipamerkan ketika majlis pecah tanah pembangunan Projek Perumahan

LTAT/PPA1M, Taman LTAT, Bukit Jalil. FOTO Khairull Azry Bidin

Kuala Lumpur: Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) akan membina 2,000

kediaman mampu milik khusus untuk anggota dan veteran tentera.

Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein berkata, projek perumahan

di Parcel 2C, Taman LTAT Bukit Jalil, di sini, merangkumi empat blok kediaman 32

tingkat dan dua podium tempat letak kereta enam tingkat yang dijangka siap pada

2018.

Katanya, projek itu adalah di bawah skim Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia

(PPA1M) yang dilaksanakan kerajaan persekutuan sejak 2013.

"Menerusi skim ini, unit kediaman yang dijual akan memperoleh subsidi RM46,750

menjadikan harga ditawarkan kepada pembeli hanya RM199,750 seunit.

"Harga ini amat istimewa berbanding harga pasaran semasa lebih-lebih lagi di lokasi

strategik di Bukit Jalil, di sini; Mutiara Damansara, Selangor dan Mutiara Rini, Johor,"

katanya dalam sidang media selepas merasmikan Majlis Pecah Tanah

Pembangunan Projek Perumahan LTAT di sini, hari ini.

Mindef seeks more funds to house personnel

and veterans

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is hoping for a bigger allocation for the

welfare of military personnel, veterans and their families in the upcoming budget.

Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic)said he hopes priority will be given

to housing and the welfare of those defending the nation.

―We have been working hard to look after our men and women by launching welfare

projects that provide school buses, scholarships and housing,‖ he said at a press

conference Tuesday after attending a ground-breaking ceremony near Bukit Jalil for

low-cost housing for military personnel and veterans through the Armed Forces Fund

Board (LTAT).

―Through this initiative, I am glad to announce that the ministry is building this 2,000

units of housing for our men and veterans.

―It will consist of four blocks of 32-storey apartments and two blocks of six-storey

parking structures,‖ he said, adding that other amenities such as a surau, a multi-

purpose hall and a badminton court will be included.

Hishammuddin said each unit will be given a RM46,750 subsidy and be sold for

RM199,750.

―Besides these 2,000 units to be built, 1,650 units have already been completed in

Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor,‖ he said.

Other housing projects for veterans include 303 units to be built in Segari, Perak, he

said.

Hishammuddin said however that there are many more military personnel and

veterans who still do not have a house to call their own, and hope that the upcoming

budget will have more projects to solve the problem.

―Let us see how much we can do after it (the budget) is announced. We do not want

to give people too much hope given the current economic climate but we are working

on it,‖ he said.

21-year service proposal for soldiers

PUTRAJAYA: A 21-year compulsory service will be proposed for military personnel

to overcome the problem faced by non-pensionable armed forces veterans.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum said the proposal to be

submitted to the Public Service Department, if approved, would no longer allow

soldiers to choose to retire early due to the various problems faced by the non-

pensionable veterans.

"The proposal to the government is for soldiers to serve for 21 years. If not, the

problems will remain," he told reporters after the Walk for Peace event at Dataran

Putrajaya today.

Based on the Inland Revenue Board's data, there were about 90,000 non-

pensionable ex-servicemen to date, he added.

He said the ministry was tracking the non-pensionable veterans through various

alumni and one-stop centres, set up nationwide by the Veterans Affairs Department.

The one-stop centres enabled armed forces veterans to seek advice and help from

Defence Ministry officials, he added.

He said the ministry would also review the assistance given to ex-servicemen who

were injured in combat.

"For example, a soldier, who was a corporal when he was injured, will be given aid in

accordance with his rank at that time, even though he is a warrant officer when he

retired," he said. —Bernama

Kaji skim pencen tentera

Putrajaya: Kementerian Pertahanan sedang mengkaji untuk menambahbaik skim

pencen pesara tentera sedia ada sekali gus memastikan kebajikan bekas perajurit

terus terjamin.

Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum berkata, kajian itu

membabitkan jurang pencen merangkumi tempoh kelayakan untuk mereka

menerima inisiatif selain bantuan sedia ada yang diberikan.

"Pelbagai bantuan seperti bantuan perumahan, persekolahan dan biasiswa kepada

pesara termasuk ahli keluarga terutama kepada mereka yang mempunyai masalah

dan tidak berkemampuan.

"Selepas kajian dilakukan setiap cadangan akan dikemukakan kepada kerajaan bagi

mendapat persetujuan sebelum dilaksanakan,"katanya ketika ditemui selepas

program Walk For Peace di Dataran Putrajaya, Presint 3 di sini, hari ini.

Walk For Peace anjuran Persatuan Veteran Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM) itu

disertai kira-kira 4,500 peserta yang terdiri daripada pesara tentera dan penuntut

Institut Pengajian Tinggi.

Program itu turut mendapat sokongan penuh daripada Kementerian Pertahanan,

Kementerian Belia dan Sukan, Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj) danPersekutuan Veteran

Sedunia.

Kementerian Pertahanan utamakan rumah

anggota, veteran ATM

Hishammuddin Tun Hussein diberi taklimat tentang model Projek Perumahan Lembaga Tabung Angkatan

Tentera dan Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia di Parsel 2C, Bukit Jalil, semalam. Turut hadir (dari kiri)

Mohd. Johari Baharum, Raja Mohamed Affandi Raja Mohamed Noor, Mohd. Anwar Mohd. Noor dan Ketua

Eksekutif Lembaga Tabung Angkatan Tentera, Tan Sri Lodin Wok Kamaruddin (dua kanan). – UTUSAN/ AMIR

KHALID

KUALA LUMPUR 20 Sept. – Aspek pemilikan rumah untuk anggota dan veteran Angkatan

Tentera Malaysia (ATM) akan menjadi fokus utama Kementerian Pertahanan bagi

memastikan kebajikan pasukan beruniform itu sentiasa terpelihara.

Menterinya, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein berkata, bagi tujuan tersebut

kementeriannya giat berbincang dengan Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak

untuk diberi tumpuan khusus dalam Bajet 2017.

Sambil mengakui ramai anggota dan veteran ATM yang masih belum memiliki rumah

sendiri, beliau berkata, kesungguhan kerajaan untuk menyediakan perumahan mampu milik

kepada kumpulan berkenaan bukan retorik, sebaliknya realiti.

―Kami di kementerian sudah memutuskan awal lagi mahu fokus kepada pembelaan hak dan

kebajikan anggota dan veteran ATM selain keutamaan dalam bidang tugas teras kita iaitu

menjaga keselamatan dan pertahanan negara.

―Bagi tujuan ini semua pihak harus bekerjasama rapat untuk menunaikan hasrat ini (tetapi)

kami tidak letakkan harapan setinggi gunung dengan jumlah besar (bilangan rumah) kerana

harus mengikut realiti ekonomi semasa.

―Banyak negara tidak memikirkan soal kebajikan tetapi kita mesti, saya telah nyatakan

bahawa saya akan memberikan keselesaan anggota. Ini saya tidak akan berkompromi,‖

katanya kepada pemberita.

Terdahulu beliau merasmikan majlis pecah tanah Projek Perumahan Lembaga Tabung

Angkatan Tentera (LTAT) dan Perumahan Penjawat Awam 1Malaysia (PPA1M) di Parsel

2C, Bukit Jalil hari ini.

Menerusi projek tersebut, LTAT akan membangunkan 2,000 unit kediaman mampu milik

merangkumi empat blok pangsapuri 32 tingkat di atas tapak seluas 3.27 hektar pada harga

RM199,750 seunit yang dijangka siap pada 2018.

Kepada soalan mengenai status empat buah helikopter Blackhawk Brunei yang sebelum ini

dilaporkan akan dimiliki pihak ATM untuk memperkasakan kawalan keselamatan di Sabah,

Hishammuddin berkata, projek tersebut ketika ini tergantung.

Katanya, hal tersebut berlaku kerana kos untuk menaik taraf Blackhawk bagi

menjadikannya sebuah helikopter bersenjata dianggap terlalu tinggi berbanding jika ATM

mengoperasikan helikopter tempur ringan jenis MD-530G keluaran McDonnell Douglas.

―Bukan dibatalkan, cuma soal kos. Ia persoalan mengenai kos, kalau sekiranya MD-530G

lebih murah dan boleh menangani ancaman yang kita hadapi di Laut Sulu, tidak perlu kita

berbelanja besar (tetapi) semuanya bergantung kepada bajet,‖ katanya.

Skim pesara tentera dikaji

Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum.

PUTRAJAYA: Kementerian Pertahanan sedang mengkaji untuk menambah baik

skim pencen pesara tentera sedia ada bagi memastikan kebajikan bekas perajurit

negara terus terjamin. Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohd Johari

Baharum, berkata kajian itu membabitkan jurang pencen termasuk tempoh

kelayakan untuk mereka menerima inisiatif, selain bantuan yang sedang diberikan.

"Pelbagai bantuan termasuk perumahan, persekolahan dan biasiswa kepada pesara

serta ahli keluarga mereka terutama yang mempunyai masalah dan tidak

berkemampuan dikaji. "Selepas selesai, setiap cadangan akan dikemukakan kepada

kerajaan bagi mendapat persetujuan daripada mereka sebelum ia terus

dilaksanakan," katanya kepada media selepas program Walk For Peace di Dataran

Putrajaya, Presint 3 di sini, hari ini. Walk For Peace anjuran Persatuan Veteran

Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (PVATM) itu disertai kira-kira 4,500 peserta terdiri

daripada pesara tentera dan penuntut institut pengajian tinggi (IPT). Program itu

turut mendapat sokongan penuh Kementerian Pertahanan, Kementerian Belia dan

Sukan, Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj) dan World Veterans Federation.

21-year service proposal for soldiers

Participants eagerly waiting for the start of Walk for Peace event at Dataran Putrajaya. —

Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: A 21-year compulsory service will be proposed for military personnel

to overcome the problem faced by non-pensionable armed forces veterans.

Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Johari Baharum said the proposal to be

submitted to the Public Service Department, if approved, would no longer allow

soldiers to choose to retire early due to the various problems faced by the non-

pensionable veterans.

―The proposal to the government is for soldiers to serve for 21 years. If not, the

problems will remain,‖ he told reporters after the Walk for Peace event at Dataran

Putrajaya, here, yesterday.

Based on the Inland Revenue Board’s data, there were about 90,000 non-

pensionable ex-servicemen to date, he added.

Mohd Johari said the ministry was tracking the non-pensionable veterans through

various alumni and one-stop centres, set up nationwide by the Veterans Affairs

Department.

Mohd Johari said the one-stop centres enabled armed forces veterans to seek

advice and help from the Defence Ministry’s officials. He said the ministry would also

review the assistance given to ex-servicemen who were injured in combat.

―For example, a soldier, who was a corporal when he was injured, will be given aid in

accordance with his rank at that time, even though he is a warrant officer when he

retired,‖ he said. — Bernama

Cadangan berkhidmat 21 tahun

Atasi isu pesara tentera tidak berpencen

PUTRAJAYA 21 Sept. - Anggota tentera akan dicadang untuk perlu berkhidmat

selama 21 tahun dalam Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) bagi mengatasi masalah

pesara tentera yang tidak berpencen, kata Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri

Mohd. Johari Baharum.

Beliau berkata, cadangan yang akan

dikemukakan kepada Jabatan Perkhidmatan

Awam (JPA) itu ialah untuk tidak lagi

membenarkan anggota tentera memilih

bersara awal ekoran pelbagai masalah yang

dihadapi kerana mereka tidak berpencen.

―Cadangan kepada kerajaan ialah kalau

masuk askar, pencen perlu mencapai 21

tahun perkhidmatan. Kalau tidak, selama-

lamanya akan ada masalah berhubung

tentera tidak berpencen,‖ katanya kepada

pemberita pada program 'Walk For Peace' di

Dataran Putrajaya di sini hari ini.

Menurutnya, berdasarkan data Lembaga

Hasil Dalam Negeri terdapat kira-kira 90,000 anggota tentera yang tidak berpencen

pada masa ini.

Mohd. Johari berkata, Kementerian Pertahanan sedang menjejaki golongan tentera

yang tidak berpencen di seluruh negara menerusi pelbagai alumni dan pusat sehenti

yang diwujudkan Jabatan Hal Ehwal Veteran.

Beliau berkata, pusat sehenti berkenaan memberi peluang kepada veteran ATM

yang bermasalah untuk bertemu pegawai Kementerian Pertahanan bagi

mendapatkan sebarang nasihat dan bantuan.

Mohd. Johari seterusnya menegaskan kerajaan sentiasa prihatin dengan kebajikan

veteran tentera dan mengkaji keperluan mereka dari semasa ke semasa.

Katanya, turut dikaji oleh Kementerian Pertahanan ialah mengenai bantuan kepada

mereka yang tercedera semasa bertempur.

Johari Baharum

―Sebagai contoh, seorang anggota tentera yang berpangkat koperal semasa dia

cedera bertempur, maka bantuan yang diberikan kepadanya adalah mengikut

pangkatnya ketika bertempur itu (iaitu koperal), walaupun ketika bersara dia sudah

berpangkat pegawai waran,‖ katanya. – BERNAMA

keratan akhbar 15 hingga 23 september 2016 bil akhbar hari

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