Govt to consolidate MAF veterans’ associations to improve aid distribution, says Adly Zahari

The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) aims to streamline and consolidate more than 300 registered Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans' associations to improve aid distribution, according to Deputy Minister Adly Zahari. This initiative, spearheaded by the National Veterans Council and the Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV), intends to reduce the number of associations to a manageable 100. By operating under parent associations, the government hopes to coordinate assistance programs more effectively for these veterans.

During a question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat, Adly Zahari addressed a supplementary query from Commander (Rtd) Nordin Ahmad Ismail regarding steps taken to coordinate the registration of veterans' associations with state governments. Simultaneously, Commander (Rtd) Rayer (PH-Jelutong) inquired about the potential re-employment of veterans at the country's main entry points.

In response, Adly mentioned that the government has commenced recruiting veterans into the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) this year. He explained that veterans, who possess national defence expertise, could have their training shortened by up to six months. Furthermore, air force veterans with technical skills could be seamlessly integrated into the defence industry.

Adly Zahari emphasized that the ministry has allocated funds in Budget 2026 and Budget 2027 to recruit former military personnel as forest rangers. This move is anticipated to simultaneously reduce government expenditure and utilize veterans' expertise in the security sector, thereby safeguarding national sovereignty.