-
I read with interest the statement by Zahid Hamidi on Malaysian Mirror where he refuted claims that former members of the Armed Forces (AF) are opposing the government. Apparently he made the comments in view of claims by some that many ex-servicemen opposed the government by expressing their views on the Internet. I am not sure whether me and Arshad Raji can be considered in the same category with other since we are ex-serviceman. I know many ex-servicemen do not blog but express their frustration with BN over my blog and at coffee shops.
-
Are we really frustrated with the government or with the politicians that governs the machinery? Personally on occasion I am frustrated with both. I am fed up with the hypocrite politicians. I am sick and tired with politicians that divide the nation. I am fed up with the politicians who make decisions that bring misery to the people. I am fed up with this “legal robbers” that drain the nation’s wealth and who makes lousy decisions that burden the people. The list about the politicians does not end there.
-
Am I fed up with the government machinery? To some I would like to say a resounding YES especially that the ones that I dealt with on a regular basis. For example certain department of MPAJ and the YDP earns my displeasure. It took me 2 years (and in the last 4 months weekly written complains) to get them to do regular maintenance a 9 tier man made slope (Lot 541) near my house.
-
Only after the aftermath of Ulu Langat landslide and assistance of my friends in the media (Star,TV3, Free Malaysia Today and Malaysiakini) that they actually begins to clean up the slope in the last few days. Why does it have to resort to this level to do something simple like cleaning drains and cutting grass? Why can’t I get a reply that says thank you for the information and the following are the steps we are going to take & when they want to do it and when it can be completed? IWK did it with ease without any issue. It is not difficult to communicate plainly but government agencies don’t want to do so. To some extent I can say the same about Ministry of Housing where I see plenty of lip service and no affirmative action when addressing abandon housing issues.
-
Between the government machinery and the politicians that govern, I must say that the politicians earned my greatest displeasure. Over the years our government machinery has degraded. Good people left and the leftovers are holding top positions and call the shots. The only reason why many of this leftover succeeded is because of their polishing skills and their network with politicians and very rarely because they have the productivity and management skills.
-
The politicians must understand why ex-serviceman like me opposed the government today when I did not even oppose them before (even when Mahathir sacked Anwar in 1998). If the minister thinks the numbers are small; I suggest that he think again. Hundreds of thousands of veterans lives in hardship with fixed pensions which are not adjusted to annual inflation rates. They are the victims of the nation plunderers and poor decision makers.
We were soldiers
June 11, 2011 by Dr R@28
13 Responses
Leave a Reply
-
Blog Stats
- 2,400,029 trips
Market Place
Malaysian Care on Politicians with excessive… jamesloh on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… jamesloh on Politicians with excessive… Dr R@28 on Politicians with excessive… Sabahan18 on Politicians with excessive… Sabahan18 on Politicians with excessive… Sabahan18 on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… Sabahan18 on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… Sabahan18 on Politicians with excessive… Observer on Politicians with excessive… New post
- Politicians with excessive wealth
- The number craze
- Malaysians- beware and dont fall into the trap!
- Solidarity… United we stand!
- Should the people allow BN to recapture Selangor?
- The water story – Kununurra Australia
- Thosai Vs. Burger!
- Temple demolition – was it intentional?
- Cost of Freedom
- Freedom…where is the limit?
Popular Post
- Politicians with excessive wealth
- The number craze
- PUSRAWI Medical Report.. did RPK erred?
- Malaysians- beware and dont fall into the trap!
- Welcome to R2W, Dr Rafick's blog: A small request
- "Murder, she wrote”
- Should the people allow BN to recapture Selangor?
- Solidarity… United we stand!
- FELDA : The smell of easy money? (Part II)
- SUK(A)E & DUK(A)E? Tak tau nak kata!
- Babi haram, Arak haram, Yoga haram…. Rokok ?
- Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) (AUKU)
Goldies
The uk Government couldn’t run a bath !
No matter who gets to power!
A quote from the ‘C A B’ (Citizens advice)
“If you were an immigrant, you could get all you are asking for , for free!”
After asking about training and education!
I needed to change my career after an injury in the forces……
I shall never ever vote for any of these so called leaders again…after over 10 years of watching these idiots they all seem to squeeze the life out of you , work you to death ,crap medical care, take everything from you, never give you anything in return
hear me hear me..
Who is to be blamed?
You are to be blamed!
Why they do not support YOU?
Becos they do not need YOU!
Why are they angry?
Becos you screwed UP!
Can you blame THEM?
No you surely can’t, they have better brains!
So mister minister, wise up and wake up!
Why should ex-servicemen hate the BN govt? I can write a whole book but here are a few examples:
Basic equipment: Politicians are very keen to buy big equipment (I mean anything above RM 100 million) because of the commission/service/contract/kickback – whatever you want to call it. However the basic soldiers’ equipment is neglected. Backpacks are not large and strong enough to contain all the things a soldier is supposed to bring to the field; water bottles’ cover leak and has to be covered by a plastic sheet; ponchos leak and soldiers have to buy another piece of plastic to cover it; boots that last only 2-3 weeks in the jungle; I can go on and on. Uniforms are supposed to be issued to other ranks but very often are not available and they have to pay out of their own meagre salaries to buy them.
Poor housing: housing supposed to be provided and when not available a housing allowance is given to rent houses. In large urban areas, most lower ranking soldiers have to stay in squatter houses because that is all they can afford on the allowance given. Those lucky enough to get quarters have to stay in cramped and poorly maintained units. Whatever money available is first used up by the generals and senior officers for their quarters. Then whatever is left is siphoned off by the main contractor (as per any govt contracts).
For those staying in barracks and messes, food is supposed to be provided by the govt and a small sum deducted from the salaries to pay for it. If you look at the food that is supposed to be provided by the contractor daily, one can have very good meals 5x a day. However what actually reaches the cook-house is a far cry (as with all govt contracts, there is a whole chain of filters that divert food away from the soldiers’ dining table.
When they retire after 21 years of service, most are in their early 40s. Only those with technical skills have reasonably good prospects. Most try to get jobs as security guards or taxi drivers. You all know how the taxi business is run in Malaysia. The minimum salary for security guards have been put on hold so many times that nobody knows what is happening.
The only servicemen happy with the BN govt are the generals and very senior officers who have benefited from contracts during and after their services. Many are directors in GLS linked to LTAT, “suppliers” of equipment to the military and also working in various “defense industries”. One former Armed Forces chief is even fortunate enough to collect several suitcases of cash and keep it in his house. Unfortunately this became public knowledge when his bungalow collapsed in a land-slide; killing several of his family.
As for me; I personally hate the present PM and former Defense Minister because he arbitrarily forced us Professional Duties officers of all 3 branches into an inferior salary scheme 20 years ago.
Lastly I would like to remind all former and serving govt servants that their loyalty is to the king, country and the GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY.
cskok8,
I’m not a serviceman or in the civil service. I encourage you and others to speak out for the wrongs that you see so that others like me can be aware of whats going on. Speak out – no matter how small or trivial you think it may be. Everything starts small – even corruption.
BTW, is it true that NS boys get better boots than serviceman/police??
Many years ago, JPA forced their way to have a standardize salary structure for the police, armed forces and their civilian counterparts in the government. This is only practiced in Malaysia. An army recruit salary is the same as the admin PAR in the civil service. The PAR goes for training in government institute, hotels and air cord class room. In the army, the recruits trains under the sun in the day and under the moonlight at night. The training itself can and has killed many? Should the salary be the same?
Malaysian soldiers and police salary schemes are not compatible even with Thai and Indonesia counterparts. Don’t have to look at other 1st world countryK.
Many years ago, JPA forced their way to have a standardize salary structure for the police, armed forces and their civilian counterparts in the government. This is only practiced in Malaysia. An army recruit salary is the same as the admin PAR in the civil service. The PAR goes for training in government institute, hotels and air cord class room. In the army, the recruits trains under the sun in the day and under the moonlight at night. The training itself can and has killed many? Should the salary be the same?
Malaysian soldiers and police salary schemes are not compatible even with Thai and Indonesia counterparts. Don’t have to look at other 1st world country.
dr,
let me say this. my dad’s pension cant even pay for his and my mum’s medical bills.
they are lucky as the children are filial and regularly contributes for medicine and food. if they have to rely on the govt, they are dead by now.
they used to vote for BN for fear. Now, they dont bother and just cross ROCKET.
doc, is there any NGOs that care for our ex servicemen and women?
TBPATM….., should care for them…., its just about Perajurit. ..but we have idiots running this country and never know where we are heading.
PS….the term above might be different…was just guessing.
Doc,
Ex-soldiers do not have the luxury of adequate pensions when they leave the service due to their meagre salaries. I know this is the case because my blood brother is one of them. We use to make comparisons between a serving police corporal and a serving army corporal. While the earlier drives and owns a Proton, the latter only owns and rides a kapcai. This is to say the least.
The rank and file in the army have a shorter term of service as compared to their counterparts in the police. As such, many ended up taking up jobs as jagas or security men in order to supplement their income to support their young families – some of whom are still school-going kids. To add to their burden is the escalating high cost of living especially the basic necessities like food, shelter and other necessities of life. Going back to kampong is an option but not the best option available to most of them. If these ex-sercivemen felt frustrated with the government, they have a cause to feel the way they do.
UMNO cannot expect undi buta from servicemen and civil servant anymore. I suspect postal votes are swapped. For sure now, UMNO cannot expect undi buta from ex-servicemen and retired civil servant, because there is no more threat of transfer into the jungle of Borneo. Tough luck!
Najib nearly lost in Pekan because of the servicemen unhappiness.
Perhaps of the near lost, the swap operation started to be mobilise nowadays.
Cerita only…
touche doc
Ex-soldiers should continue to do national service by helping to kick out corrupt regime and incompetent and useless leaders.
Helping to clean out the incompetent leaders and corrupt regime will indirectly helping your retirement. Good government will always taking care of rakyat.
Doc, you are in a good position to spread out he message to your colleagues and ex colleagues. Please help in the interest of public.