LABUAN, Feb 8 (Bernama) -- More than 26,000 out of the 41,000 non-pensionable Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans are eligible for the RM300 Household Living Aid, or Bantuan Sara Hidup (BSH).
MAF Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) director-general Major General Zambery Jefry Darus said the monthly aid has been disbursed since September last year.
He said the assistance is subject to specific criteria, targeting those classified as hardcore poor falling below the Poverty Line Income (PGK) with a monthly earning of RM1,169 or less.
“JHEV acknowledges the importance of addressing the needs of these veterans,” he told Bernama after officiating a dialogue with Labuan MAF veterans, widows, and their representatives at Menara Perbadanan Labuan here today.
He said JHEV is in discussions with the government to relax the current terms and conditions, advocating for extending the aid to all 41,000 non-pensionable MAF veterans.
Zambery said the overall MAF veterans community comprises more than 168,000 individuals nationwide, including 78,000 non-pensionable veterans, widows, and dependents.
Earlier, he said 33,042 MAF veterans nationwide benefited from the JHEV welfare scheme, receiving total assistance amounting to RM62.57 million in 2023.
He said the JHEV Welfare Assistance Schemes include support for household living, schooling, admission to higher education institutions, patients' equipment, and disaster relief.
Zambery underscored the Ministry of Defence's unwavering commitment to the well-being of the veterans, making it a key focus area.
“In the face of economic uncertainty and rising living costs, JHEV aims to devise effective strategies to enhance the standard of living for our veterans,” he said.
Zambery's working visit, spanning from Feb 5 to Feb 14, encompasses Labuan and Sabah and also includes events such as the ATM Veteran Cakna Programme, dialogue sessions, house key handover ceremonies, and the Warrior Fund Campaign Charity Run.
-- BERNAMA
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