SEREMBAN, Oct 7 -- The Negeri Sembilan branch of the Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) hopes that Budget 2020, which will be tabled on Friday, would have an allocation for giving allowances to recipients of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM).

Its president Major (Rtd) Datuk Sazali Ismail said the allowance was a token of appreciation for the sacrifices of the military veterans who had fought against communist terrorists until 1989.

"The granting of this allowance should be implemented as it is also an appreciation for the fighters who risked their lives during the communist era," he said when contacted by Bernama here today.

Sazali said since Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu said he would make sure the grant was included in the 2020 budget, many veterans had expressed their happiness.

Meanwhile, PVATM president Capt (Rtd) Datuk Sharuddin Omar said the federal government should think about how to ensure that servicemen who had retired in their early 40s could provide their expertise in contributing to the country's economic development.

“Most of those who retired in the early 40s still have young children and they are looking for new jobs to make a living.” 

He added that if the government could come up with a concept of how the ex-servicemen could continue to contribute either through the creation of jobs or businesses, it would help in reducing socio-economic problems and the burden of those who were unemployed.

Citing the example of Indonesia, Sharuddin said the manufacture of small arms and ammunition could  enable veterans to have jobs. 

-- BERNAMA