Initiative to uplift Armed Forces veterans

GEORGE TOWN: With thousands of Armed Forces veterans still unemployed, the newly-launched Veteran MyWira initiative aims to uplift their socio-economic well- being and ensure a dignified retirement for the them.

With the aim to aid in employment for 500 Armed Forces veterans this year, the initiative is set to pave the way for new career opportunities for them.

Human Resources Minister Steven Sim who launched the initiative here yesterday, said Veteran MyWira marks the first time collaboration between the Human Resources Ministry through its agency Talent Corporation Malaysia Bhd and the Ex-Servicemen Affairs Corporation (Perhebat) under the Defence Ministry.

“We aim to aid 500 veterans with post-retirement careers this year with the goal to offer 5,000 jobs annually within the next two years,” he said during a press conference after the launching of the initiative at Setia Spice Convention Centre in Bayan Lepas yesterday.

He said the initiative will be piloted in partnership with Micron Memory Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Micron), a leader in Malaysia’s semiconductor ecosystem and will leverage on the unique skill sets possessed by the Armed Forces veterans to fill job vacancies in the market.

“It will focus on industry- driven skill and employment within the private sector.

“During the pilot project, 25 quality jobs would be offered by Micron.

“They would be offered a salary of between RM2,900 and RM4,200, depending on the type of job.

“This year alone, we will offer a total of 500 quality jobs.

“Discussions are being held with some of the companies to finalise the terms and conditions,” he said.

He shared that through the initiative, the veterans will get to upgrade their skills in line with job market demands and transition into the private sector.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said there are between 3,000 and 5,000 Armed Forces veterans nationwide who were still unemployed.

“The majority of them are young, aged between 32 and 40, and do not receive a pension.

“There are a total of 24,000 veterans under the watch of Perhebat, of which 19,000 are still in contact.

“Each year there are around 6,000 retirees from the Armed Forces of various age groups.

“The ones seeking employment are the younger ones who have retired as young as 30.

“This initiative can make a meaningful impact on the lives of retired servicemen and women, empowering them to navigate the challenges of retirement with dignity and resilience,” he said.

According to administrative data from Perhebat, an estimated 5,000 to 6,000 members of the Armed Forces retire each year.

As of May last year, the Department of Veteran Affairs reported a total of 42,745 veterans who are 50 years old or younger.