The Veteran Affairs Department has urged ex-servicemen who have yet to register as voters to do so as part of their continued sacrifice to the nation.

Its director-general, Maj-Gen Zulkiflee Mazlan said about 30,000 ex-servicemen had yet to register as voters with the Election Commission (EC).

He said the ex-servicemen became postal voters during their service but failed to register as voters after they left the armed forces.

Speaking to reporters after opening the 85th Ex-Servicemen Association of Malaysia (PBTM) annual delegates meeting here today, he said only 172,000 of 300,000 ex-servicemen had registered with the department and tracing those who had not done so was an uphill battle.

Penang PBTM president Rusli Zinol said about 2,500 of 11,000 ex-servicemen in the state had yet to register as voters and 12 members had been appointed assistant registrars by the EC to assist in voter registration exercise.

At the function, Zulkiflee handed over aid, including two wheelchairs, to 110 ex-servicemen and family members, including 50 who are celebrating Deepavali.

- Bernama