Pensioners are hoping that the government will look into their plight and provide an increment in the coming Budget 2007, which will be tabled in Parliament next Friday.

The former workers are finding it difficult to make ends meet as the cost of living escalates.

K Ramanathan, 62, a former junior clerk with Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) said his pension amounting to RM4,200 per annum has not changed since he retired in 1999.

The father of three lamented that while his pension rate has remained stagnant, the price of goods and services continued to rise.

"The amount has remained the same since I retired, there is no adjustment or increment but expenses have gone up. The price of petrol and electricity has gone up," he told malaysiakini.

The former KTM staff said the situation is difficult because his pension is also used to support the education needs of his children.

"My sons are in Form 3 and Form 4 while my daughter is attending a private college," he said, adding that he would soon have to fork out money for his daughter's semester fees.

"I often need to borrow money from friends and relatives and pay them back slowly when I have the money,"he said.

Asked how much of an increment he would like, Ramanathan said an additional RM100 will help alleviate his problems a little.

Hoping to meet Pak Lah

Another former KTM staff, V Rasapah also complained of being unable to cope with the increasing financial burdens.

The 59-year-old former station manager said the RM800 he receives is not sufficient to support his household expenses.

"I have to support my wife and we live in Kuala Lumpur where the living expenses are quite high. Furthermore, prices have been increasing such as petrol and electricity, it is hard for us survive," he added.

Meanwhile, a senior official from the Pensioners' association said they are aware of the situation and have been trying their best to pursue the matter.

According to the official, who declined to be named, the association had raise the issue with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad but was told to wait until the economic condition improved.

"We made numerous attempts to fix an appointment with Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi but our appointment was cancelled due to the death of his wife (last October)," he said, adding that they hope to meet the premier soon.

He said the government has promised to improve the situation and they are hoping that it will be announced in the coming budget.