SIBU: International Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) head Datuk Dr Mustapha Ahmad Marican hascalled on the Sarawak government to consider granting Armed Forces and Police veterans the K-status identification card.
He said this should be done as a recognition of the veterans’ long-term residence and contributions to Sarawak.
“Today, many retired Armed Forces and Police personnel who have settled in Sarawak, marrying local Sarawakian women, still face challenges in obtaining the Sarawakian Permanent Resident K-status identification card, despite having lived in the state for many years,” he said.
He said this in his speech during a meeting with Armed Forces veterans at a prominent hotel here, last night (Dec 6).
He also urged the government to provide special recognition to the veterans who served during the Emergency period as a tribute to their sacrifices for Sarawak and the nation.
Mustapha, a former Naval Officer who served at KD Sri Rejang located in Kampung Nangka, Sibu, from 1980 to 1984, said reflecting on the era, the communist threat at the time was severe, even putting his life in grave danger.
“The sacrifices of the Armed Forces and Police veterans during that challenging period were immense, with many losing their lives,” he stressed.
Earlier, he also visited the former naval base KD Sri Rejang, which was under the Rajang Security Command (RASCOM).
The base has now been converted into the 510 Territorial Army Regiment of the Army.
The old buildings remain intact, serving as a historical marker of the base, which was officially opened on 19 January 1980 by the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, who was the Defence Minister at the time.
Accompanying Mustapha was the former ATM Veterans Association Chairman, Thomas Ling, who now serves as the Adviser to the Sarawak ATM Veterans Association.
