The Defence Ministry has continued paying pension to army veterans even after they have died, causing the government to lose almost RM12 million.

 

According to the Auditor-General's Report 2013, the Veteran Affairs Department (JHEV) had paid out RM11.94 million in pension for 3,786 veterans who had passed away between 2011 and 2013.

 

Upon realising the mistake, the department had moved to recover the amount but had thus far only managed to get back RM1.69 million or 14.2 percent.

 

The third series of the audit report, the last for this year, was tabled in Parliament this morning.

 

"JHEV should continuously conduct checks on the latest status of pension recipients with the National Registration Department (NRD) to avoid payment to pension recipients who have died," said the report.

 

In its reply dated Sept 22, JHEV said the department had previously relied on the next of kin to inform whether a pension recipient had passed away.

 

"If there is no official notification, then the pension will continue to be paid," it said.

 

However, JHEV said it has tasked 13 officers to update the data of some 10,000 recipients and assured that it will be matched with the NRD data.

 

It added the updating process is expected to be completed by 2015.

 

The audit report also advised JHEV to come up with a clearer veteran benefit scheme to facilitate applications and to revise its assistance to an amount that matches present cost of living.

 

This is after a survey of some veterans found that they were living in poverty.

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