KUCHING: Lt-Col (retd) Datuk Fabian Wong has appealed to the federal government to reconsider its stance on pension adjustments for armed forces personnel who retired before Jan 1, 2013.
He said the government should have accepted the Kuala Lumpur High Court’s decision in favour of veterans instead of appealing against it.
The Court of Appeal has since overturned the ruling, with the case now scheduled for hearing at the Federal Court in November.
“The veterans brought their case to the High Court and won. But the government appealed and the Appeal Court judged against us.
“My take is the government should have accepted the High Court’s verdict and paid what is due to the veterans,” he said to Sarawak Tribune.
Wong asserted that veterans had always remained disciplined and loyal to the King and Country, as well as to the government of the day, and now expected the same loyalty in return.
“We served during Confrontation, against communist insurgencies, during Hartal and May 13, and in UN peacekeeping missions.
“No country in the world had defeated two communist insurgencies — Malaysia did it. The veterans gave their all for the nation’s peace and security.”
Wong also described the hardships faced by retired soldiers, particularly those from the Rangers Corps, many of whom live on meagre pensions.
He said that associations could only provide short-term support, such as visiting the sick or assisting with funerals.
“Some cannot afford proper healthcare or food supplements. I see veterans in our chat groups passing away in their 40s and 50s. They suffer in silence because they lack resources.”
He noted his own challenges, including driving a 25-year-old car, living in an unrepaired house, and being unable to afford dental care or new clothes.
As such, Wong urged the government to consider phased payments if immediate settlement was not possible, stressing that financial constraints should not prevent the adjustment.
“Pension adjustment is a right. Funds should already be catered for it. The government can borrow from banks, or even from the Sarawak government, to pay Sarawakian veterans first.
“Pension adjustment is the answer to the veterans’ woes and grievances, and once it is settled, there will be little or no issues left.”
He also suggested providing an additional RM500 monthly for Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) medal recipients and raising pension rates by 10 to 15 per cent until they are on par with post-2013 retirees.
On a side note, Wong proposed that Sarawak produce a history book that properly acknowledges the contributions of its veterans.
“The achievements of Sarawak veterans deserve to be written and remembered, not only here but also in Sabah, Peninsular, and Putrajaya.”
