KUALA LUMPUR: The first meeting to review civil servants' service and retirement schemes, scheduled next Monday, will also include the armed forces veterans' scheme in its agenda, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Pensionable and non-pensionable veterans will be included in the review, said Anwar.
He said the government can continue giving various assistance to assist the people including the armed forces veterans, however, it would not solve the problems they faced.
"I have discussed the matter with the ministers, chief secretary to the government and the public service department director-general.
"If we did not make any improvement to the existing scheme of the armed forces veterans, we will continue to be saddled by this problem.
He said the government could continue to provide various livelihood assistance, but this does not solve the whole problem.
"Hence, next week, for the first time during the first meeting to review the civil servants' service and retirement scheme, we will include the armed forces veterans' scheme in the agenda.
"The study is expected to take about six months and taking into account the financial implication as well.
"I'm not promising moon and stars, but I am confident that we can settle this once and for all," he said in his speech during the Armed Forces Veteran Entrepreneur Empowerment Programme at Wisma Perwira here.
Present was Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan and the Forces forces chief General Tan Sri Affendi Buang.
Anwar said the government will also take into account the views of veterans' associations including the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat).
In his speech, Anwar also said there is no reason why only a few agencies under the Defence Ministry that oversee the welfare of the veterans.
"I will discuss this matter with Zahid (Deputy Prime Minister and Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi) so that Mara, Risda... all government agencies, government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and government-linked companies (GLCs) to include the veterans in every decision; be it a loan facilities, job opportunities and agriculture facilities.
"This Wednesday, during a cabinet meeting, I'll instruct all government agencies, especially those handling the Bumiputera, to ensure assistance are given to the veterans," he said adding this would include Petronas and Khazanah.
