KOTA BHARU - The Defence Ministry intends to set up a special free health polyclinic for Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans in an effort to provide more holistic health services.
Its deputy minister Adly Zahari said the proposal will be brought to the highest level of the ministry this year and it will depend on the Finance Ministry.
He said the ministry intends to start the implementation of the first special health polyclinic in Kelantan since the state has a higher density of veterans than other states.
"Kelantan is given priority since it has a higher density of veterans. In other states (veterans), there are about 5,000 to 6,000 members but in Kelantan, there are more than 15,000 people.
"We have data which shows the locality of these veterans in the state. Apart from Kelantan, the states of Perak and Kedah will also be given attention. We will try to make this come true," he said.
He told reporters after officiating the 54th Kelantan MAF Veterans Association Representative Conference 2023 at the Kota Bharu Industrial Training Institute (ILPKB), Pengkalan Chepa here today.
Also present was PVATM deputy president, Datuk Sazali Ismail, and Kelantan PVATM president, Ab Aziz Awang Lah.
Adly also expressed his appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for his concern for the problems and welfare of veterans.
"The Prime Minister's commitment to empowering the veterans' economy, including the issue of pensionable and non-pensionable schemes is commendable and he even emphasised that every ministry should organise special programmes for this group.
The media previously reported that the retired and non-pensioned Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans scheme will be included in the agenda for the first time at the first meeting to review civil servants’ service and retirement schemes next Monday. - BERNAMA