Malaysian Veteran Armed Forces (ATM) are encouraged to be more proactive venturing into high-impact sectors that bring added value as prioritised in the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).

Deputy Minister of Defense, Adly Zahari said, sectors such as renewable energy, digital technologies, electric and electronic (E&E), agriculture and modern agro-based industry which possess high growth high value (HGHV) elements, offer big prospects that can improve the socioeconomic status of ATM veterans.

“I’m confident that ATM veterans can become contributors to the efforts made under RMK13 to make Malaysia known as a consumption powerhouse that produces products and services Made by Malaysia,” he said.

At the same time, Adly encouraged ATM veterans to strengthen their knowledge and master new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) in order to increase marketability and competitiveness, parallel to digitization.

He added, technology proficiency, creativity and innovation also open up job opportunities and digital marketing by expanding product reach through social media.

“I suggest we learn from it because it can give us a plethora of useful information that could be beneficial,” he said.

Adly said that during the ATM Veteran Entrepreneur Empowerment Program (PUVET ATM) in Tawau, Sabah.

He also delivered a Rural Entrepreneurship Strengthening Support Grant (SPKLB) to nine ATM veteran entrepreneurs worth RM54,000.

In attendance as well were Director General of the Ex-Servicemen's Affairs Corporation (PERHEBAT), Datuk Ts. Amir Md. Noor and Director General of the ATM Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV ATM) Mejar Jeneral Datuk Semaon Marjuki.

Deputy Minister of Defense, Adly Zahari during his speech at the ATM Veteran Entrepreneur Empowerment (ATM PUVET) program

As many as 225 ATM veterans have received benefits from the SPKLB grant worth RM1.13 million since its launch in 2023 to date.

Previously, PUVET ATM was carried out for 11 series in Peninsular Malaysia before it was expanded to Sabah for the first time.

This initiative demonstrated the determination of the Ministry of Defence through PERHEBAT in improving the socioeconomic status of ATM veterans through various efforts across the country.

Dari kiri, Ummarang Manti, Azran Soud dan Mohd Ali Osman antara veteran ATM yang menerima geran SPKLB

According to Amir, PUVET ATM is taking a new step by redesigning the content of the program through industry visits with veteran entrepreneurs directly in the field this year.

He said the approach allowed veterans to meet industry players as well as state and federal government agency representatives.

“Veterans are exposed to new knowledge about industry expansion, understanding the best practice in starting a new business as well as gaining networking access to grants and incentives offered by agencies involved,” he said.

For starters, PUVET ATM brought 35 ATM veterans to visit three main industry sectors around Tawau such as tourism and recreation industry at Taman Rekreasi Hutan Simpan Mambalua, agriculture industry at Taman Kekal Pertanian Makanan and Ladang Ternakan Ayam Pedaging.

All three of these premises were managed by ATM veterans themselves under the guidance of PERHEBAT.

In the meantime, SPKLB grant recipient Mohd Ali Osman, 51, said he and his wife who are working on sambal Menaq were excited to receive incentive for their equipment in order to expand their business since its establishment in 2016.

According to Ali, he plans to expand Menaq’s market which features sambal of various flavors including salted fish, dried shrimp, spicy soy sauce and spicy tofu sambal all the way to Brunei.

“I started this business immediately after retiring from ATM. In a month, we received an estimate of 400 bottles (400 gram each) requests.

“Other than that, we sold our products in packages of 50 grams and 80 grams,” he said as he mentioned that adding halal certification helps Menaq sales too.

For a kek lapis entrepreneur, Ummarang Manti, 52, PERHEBAT’s efforts assisted many veteran entrepreneurs such as her particularly in the financial and guidance aspect through programs until she succeeded.

“I retired in 2016, and my business started two years after that. However, my newly-launched business faced a few challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I rise after COVID-19 through PERHEBAT. My kek lapis business expands and I plan to focus on the Tawau airport market because it was the gateway for tourists,” she said as she mentioned that her business was first launched online.

According to Ummarang, after receiving the grant, her income rose from RM3,000 to RM4,000 per month.

“Previously, my income was RM1,000 per month. I hope with the incentive, my kek lapis sales will expand and generate more revenue reaching at least RM8,000 monthly,” she said.

A cabinet and rental canopy entrepreneur, Azran Soud, 48 said, he started his business with a starting capital of RM40,000.

He hoped the received grant will allow him to expand his business across Sabah and his company to become a prominent competitor to other furniture entrepreneurs.

“The income I earn will be used to grow the business," he said.