KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) is ready to study a suitable scheme to be given to members who retire early without receiving a pension.

MAF chief Gen Tan Sri Affendi Buang said a comprehensive study was being carried out to help members who retired early to resume their lives after terminating their service.

He said there were veterans who quit early in their 40s and their commitment was still long including children who were still in school and unfinished house and car installments.

READ: Mandatory Retirement For MAF Personnel After 21 Years Of Service

“The MAF will study the appropriate scheme to be given to them so that veterans do not have difficulties in life,” he said in a press conference after handing over the Tabung Pahlawan 2020 (Matching Grant) campaign to 83 MAF veterans associations at MAF Wisma Perwira, here, today.

Also present was Defence Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Seri Muez Abdul Aziz. Affendi said although the MAF needed young members, it needed a holistic change on the pension scheme for members.

Last April, the Ministry of Defence in a proposal to make it compulsory for MAF members to serve for 21 years to qualify them to receive a pension.

The proposal will involve amendments to the Armed Forces Act 1972 relating to pension and gratuity regulations.

Currently, military personnel have the option of retiring which is 12, 15 or 18 years of service without obtaining a pension.

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ATM sedia kaji skim sesuai untuk anggota bersara awal tanpa pencen

KUALA LUMPUR: Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) sedia mengkaji skim yang sesuai untuk diberikan kepada anggota yang bersara awal tanpa mendapat pencen.

Panglima ATM Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang berkata kajian menyeluruh sedang dijalankan bagi membantu anggota yang bersara awal untuk meneruskan kehidupan mereka selepas menamatkan perkhidmatan.

Beliau berkata ada veteran yang berhenti awal pada usia 40-an dan komitmen mereka masih panjang termasuk anak-anak yang masih bersekolah dan ansuran rumah serta kereta yang belum selesai dibayar.

“ATM akan mengkaji skim yang sesuai untuk diberikan kepada mereka ini supaya veteran tidak menjalani kesukaran hidup,” katanya dalam sidang media selepas majlis penyerahan kempen Tabung Pahlawan 2020 (Matching Grant) kepada 83 persatuan veteran ATM di Wisma Perwira ATM, di sini, hari ini.

Turut hadir, Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pertahanan Datuk Seri Muez Abdul Aziz.Affendi berkata walaupun ATM memerlukan anggota muda namun pihaknya memerlukan perubahan secara holistik mengenai skim pencen untuk anggota.

Pada April lepas, Kementerian Pertahanan dalam cadangan untuk mewajibkan anggota ATM berkhidmat selama 21 tahun bagi melayakkan mereka menerima pencen.

Cadangan itu akan melibatkan pindaan terhadap Akta Angkatan Tentera 1972 berkaitan peraturan pencen dan ganjaran.Pada masa ini, anggota tentera mempunyai pilihan bersara iaitu 12, 15 atau 18 tahun perkhidmatan tanpa mendapatkan pencen.

— BERNAMA