As more Malaysians clinch medals for their feats in the Rio Olympic Games, the spotlight is on a police report lodged by a retired armed personnel over the decision to award RM3,000 monthly pensions to two Olympic medalists.

Rozzeli Pin wants the government to reconsider the move, saying that the contributions of security force personnel – who risk their lives for the country – far exceed that of Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoon, who "only dived from a plank".

To determine if this is a stance shared by other retired security force personnel, Malaysiakini spoke to two top retired army veterans for their views on the matter.

Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association (PVATM) president Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor said pitting athletes against soldiers was like "comparing apples and oranges".

“There is no comparison, it is way beyond comparison. (Veteran armed personnel) fought for the country and some lost their limbs, and eyesight, others riddled with bullets in their bodies.

“Therefore, they should be given special mention,” he said.

But the country’s athletes, he admitted, have certainly made the country proud, too.

“They bring pride to the nation; flying the flag of the nation high in the Olympic arena (to) the world at large,” he added.

Anwar believes it is pertinent that the government recognise the sacrifices of the country’s security force personnel.

But he added that representing Malaysia in the world arena is also a form of recognition.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (MAFSVA) vice-president Harjit Singh Rendawa labelled Rozelli “stupid” for lodging the police report.

Soldiers know what they are getting into when they sign the dotted lines, he said.

“A soldier does not go and beg for these kind of things. I have no respect for the man who lodged the repor; in fact, I was very ashamed when he made the report."

Soldiers, he said, are rewarded according to what they have signed up for – veterans who fight for the country would be rewarded accordingly while normal soldiers will receive their normal pensions.

Harjit, himself, once broke his legs during one of his pursuits as a paratrooper.

“I agreed to join the army, that was the job that I took on, I took that as an honour.

“Making a comparison of our Olympians winning and being rewarded – I think it’s very silly of this man to do so,” he added.

Tackling the underlying issue

Both Anwar and Harjit pointed out the real underlying issue plaguing retired armed personnel - the current pensions scheme.

Anwar said he had already recommended that the government revise the pension and implement a minimum rate.

“We must be mindful of the fact that the cost of living has been rising as we move towards developed country status.

“So we ought to re-visit the pension veterans are receiving, raise it to a quantum that commensurates with the current cost of living,” he said.

Echoing Anwar, Harjit said his pensions of RM2,500 was “not very much” – and this is despite the fact that he retired from the army as a major.

“Our pensions are not comparable to what others are getting now, that’s something we are fighting for.

“In other countries, pensions are in line with the last one month pay of the current rank,” he said.

Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein was previously reported as saying that RM58.89 million has been allocated as part of a salary hike for Malaysian Armed Forces personnel from July 1 onwards.

The minister had also announced that armed forces veterans, whose service has ended or will end from Jan 1, 2013 to June 30, 2016, will get a one-off payment, totalling RM56.62 million.