KENINGAU: The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) continues to strengthen its commitment to the welfare of Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) veterans through the implementation of the Peduli Veteran Madani (PVM) 2026 programme, which was held over two days in Keningau and Tambunan.
Deputy Minister of Defence Adly Zahari said the programme, the first to be held in Sabah this year, serves as an important platform to engage directly with ATM veterans and their families through initiatives coordinated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (JHEV ATM).
Advertisement
.gif)
He said throughout the outreach programme, 20 ATM veterans, including those from the asnaf group, chronic illness patients, widows and families with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), were visited and assisted in both districts.
“In addition to checking on their well-being, various forms of welfare assistance were provided, including medical equipment, home repair assistance and the presentation of the Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) to eligible veterans,” he said.
Adly said the programme also serves as an important platform to gather direct feedback from veterans and their families, enabling Mindef to assess, plan and improve existing assistance programmes in the future.
During the outreach, he also handed over 500 Rahmah Food Baskets for distribution to local ATM veterans’ associations.
He added that the PVM initiative continues to function as a two-way engagement platform between Mindef and the veteran community, focusing on five key areas: welfare, healthcare, housing, education and economic empowerment.
Records show that Sabah has 7,893 registered ATM veterans, with 855 residing in Keningau and 306 in Tambunan.
For 2026, a total of RM850,423 has been allocated under the Sabah ATM Veterans Housing Initiative, comprising RM695,383 for home repair assistance and RM155,040 for new house construction projects.
Meanwhile, ATM veteran Salamin Mujun, 70, expressed his appreciation to the Ministry, particularly the Deputy Minister of Defence, for visiting his home and presenting him with a Monthly Living Assistance (BSH) of RM500, a PJM certificate and JHEV ATM home repair assistance worth RM19,790.
“With this assistance, non-pensioned ATM veterans like us can continue our lives more comfortably through the monthly support provided,” he said.
