Many thanks to Skot Abdul Rahman Teoh
JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
78,500 veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces stand at the crossroads of justice and neglect. For over a decade, we have been denied the rights we earned through blood, sweat, and sacrifice.
The Pension Adjustment case, already ruled in our favour by the High Court, now lies in the hands of the Court of Appeal. Despite the court’s recognition of the Malaysian Armed Forces Council (MAT)’s failure to address this issue, the Ministry of Defence has chosen to challenge the decision. Legally, they have that right—but morally, can they justify this delay?
The judgment will be delivered on 21 January 2025 at the Court of Appeal in Putrajaya. We, the veterans who defended this nation through the harshest of battles—fighting the Communist insurgency in the dense jungles of West and East Malaysia and standing firm during the confrontation with Indonesia in the 1960’s—ask only for what is rightfully ours.
This is not a plea for charity, nor do we seek sympathy. We demand justice and fairness. We appeal to the MADANI government to correct the wrongs of the past regime. Mistakes were made—mistakes that left many of us, particularly those in the lower ranks, struggling in poverty.
Out of the 78,500 affected, 96% are from the lower ranks, surviving on pensions as low as RM1,500 per month. These are men and women who once carried the weight of this nation’s defence, now living as part of the B40 or worse. Can anyone in power truly understand what it feels like to live this way, after a lifetime of service?
Even a former Chief of the Navy, in fact the very first — an Admiral who led the Royal Malaysian Navy—is today drawing a pension lower than a serving sergeant. Does this reflect the values of a responsible and caring government?
Prime Minister, we implore you: open your heart. Feel the pain of those who stood ready to lay down their lives for this country. Justice cannot wait any longer.
After 11 years of delays, court battles, and being passed around like an afterthought, we finally await the verdict. We urge all 78,500 veterans to unite in solidarity at the Court of Appeal, Putrajaya.
Let us convene on the 21st of January 2025, as the court proceedings are expected to begin at 9:00–10:00 AM. Let our presence speak louder than words. Let the nation see us—strong and unwavering, as we always have been.
This is not just about pensions. It is about honour, fairness, and respect for the sacrifices we made.
AGI IDUP AGI NGELABAN
Abdul Rahman Teoh
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