Increment of Allowance for Bravery Award Receipients

Increment of Allowances for Bravery Award Receipients They fought for the country at a time when they were most needed - during WW2, the Malayan Emergency 1948 - 1989, the Communists Insurgency in Sarawak and the Indonesian Confrontation. The majority of these heroes have retired and are in their 60s/70s and even 80s. Sad but true, before the year 2000, there were very little recognition given to these heroes. Only the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) was given an allowance of RM200 a month. Promises had been made but never honoured. In the year 2000, I brought up the case to the then Defence Minister, YB Dato' Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak, who promised to take up the case. A year later, the Panglima Gagah Berani (PGB)receipients were given a monthly allowance of RM300 and RM400 to the SPs. The allowance was backdated to 1976 - a princely amount. Life has changed in the last few years and we found that many couldn't make ends meet. About a year ago we decided to write to YB Dato' Seri Najib again and asked for an increment of at least RM1000 for the PGBs and RM1500 for the SPs. What we received today surpassed what we had expected. Thank you very much. You have given us the breathing space. Breakdown of recipients (still alive): SPs Armed Forces - 3 Police - 8 PGBs Armed Forces - 60 Police - 15 GC Iban Tracker - 1 (Awang ak. Rawing) MC Royal Malay Regiment - 2 MM Royal Malay Regiment - 8

YAB Dato Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak, the Prime Minister, taking the salute from the Guard of Honour at the Prominade of the Ministry of Defence.

Right to Left: The Defence Minister, the Prime Minister and Senator Abdul Ghani, the President of Persatuan Bekas Tentera Malaysia. I received the cheque from the Prime Minister

At the tea reception after the function

NST cutting highlighting the function (the next day, August 1, 2009)

The other recipients and I comparing our cheques.