Among the many sidelined groups in Malaysia , the pensioners are certainly one. The government has shortchanged us and forgotten us when pensions were revised except for the last one in 2007.That was merely a bait for the coming elections next month.

All government pensions are calculated for 25 years of service only. Many of us work for considerably longer. All those years we have slogged just counts for nothing to our uncaring government. For example, a person who has worked for 32 years and should be getting a pension of about RM2,000 but instead he is only paid RM1,220. He is shortchanged by RM780. Seven years of service is just wiped out.

As a result, many pensioners like me are forced to seek re-employment. Even in the area of re-employment pensioners have been played out The government has reduced the EPF contributions for such employers in spite of protests from the MTUC.

I just cannot imagine how those with smaller pensions manage. It is made even more difficult if there are children to put through to school or college, or children who cannot find jobs and are reliant on their parents which is a very common feature in the dozing Abdullah regime. Heaven help pensioners if they fall sick .They are at the mercy of the public health service, which is noted for its inefficiency and uncaring attitude - private medical care is beyond almost all pensioners.

Pensioners also get a raw deal in the repayment of housing loans. Half the gratuity is taken for the housing loan. This means the principal loan sum is reduced but no recalculation is done. For example, if a pensioner has an outstanding loan of RM110,000 and was paying monthly instalments of RM800 at retirement, half his gratuity would be deducted.

So, if his gratuity is RM70,000 the deduction would be RM35,000. Does this not mean the loan sum is reduced to RM35,000? Not according to the treasury which requires the poor burdened pensioner to continue to pay the RM800 installment. This is daylight robbery. No recalculation of the installment is done.

The treasury is directly under the prime minister, surely he can appreciate the problems pensioners are facing. The problems faced by pensioners are compounded by the soaring cost of necessities such as petrol, transport, pharmaceuticals and off-the-counter medicines.

It is a fact that many pensioners are barely eking out a living. Unfortunately the government just does not seem to care. They are too busy lining their pockets.

Pensioners are a sizable group in this country, and we should unite like ‘Bersih’, Hindraf and march onto Putrajaya to wake up our sleeping prime minister and make it known we have suffered long enough. Or we could join forces.

If no action is forthcoming, pensioners must unite and deny Barisan Nasional a two thirds majority.

We are not appreciated after years of loyal service. Unite and let the ballot box talk. We are a sizable group and are able to cause serious damage to BN, which refuses to walk the talk.