Defence Ministry proposes annual Veterans Day

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry is considering the establishment of an annual Veterans Day to honour the contributions and sacrifices of armed forces veterans.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said the National Veterans Council had agreed to support the proposal, which would see the celebration held nationwide each year, subject to cabinet approval.

"The proposed celebration would provide an opportunity to strengthen public appreciation for military veterans and recognise their sacrifices and service to the country," he said in his speech at the 100th National General Assembly of the Armed Forces Veterans Association.

Khaled said the government remained committed to safeguarding veterans' welfare while shifting its approach from providing one-off assistance to empowering them through skills development, retraining, employment opportunities and entrepreneurship programmes.

"Assistance will continue to be provided to those in need. At the same time, we want to ensure veterans can become independent, generate income and build better lives after completing their service.

"The Armed Forces Veterans Association plays an important role as a strategic partner to the ministry and the Veterans Affairs Department, particularly in conveying veterans' concerns and ensuring they are informed of government assistance and development programmes," he said.

He said veterans should not be viewed merely as recipients of welfare assistance, but as individuals with valuable experience, skills and capabilities who could continue contributing to society and the country.

He called on the association to encourage more veterans to participate in reskilling programmes, skills certification initiatives and employment-matching schemes, including those implemented through the Veterans Entrepreneur and Skills Training Corporation (Perhebat).

"The ministry is also working with the Human Resources Ministry to ensure veterans receive appropriate training, qualifications and career opportunities.

"Veterans could also contribute to the country's Comprehensive Defence concept, or Hanruh, by promoting defence awareness, instilling patriotism and strengthening community resilience," he said.

He said the ministry was expanding opportunities for veterans through career-matching programmes and economic initiatives.

"Under the Harga Istimewa Tentera Sejahtera (HITS) campaign at Pernama outlets in military camps, veterans are eligible to purchase goods at discounts of up to 30 per cent.

"The ministry is also committed to involving veteran-owned businesses in the defence industry, according to their capabilities."

Khaled assured veterans that their welfare and needs would not be neglected, adding that contributions to the Warriors Fund, which supports veterans and their families, had increased from RM1.3 million in 2023/2024 to RM2.19 million in 2024/2025 and RM3.35 million in 2025/2026.

Collections for 2026/2027 had so far reached RM4.35 million.

He said the Armed Forces Veterans Association, which had 182,786 registered members with the Veterans Affairs Department, was among the country's oldest and largest veterans' organisations.