The protest in front of the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on June 29 by members of Persatuan Veteran Tentera Melayu (PVTM) has been put off to a date yet to be fixed.

PVTM president Mohd Ali Baharom also said he received threats from the minister’s wife.

The protest was put off because Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi would not be at Mindef on that day, Mohd Ali told a press conference, at which he also showed reporters an SMS message from Zahid's wife Hamidah Khamis.

NONE The message reads: “Please remember (Defence Minister) Zahid Hamidi is not alone and is of dignity.

“I don't think people will keep quiet and relax while a ruckus takes place in front of the Ministry of Defence.”

When contacted, Hamidah declined to comment and suggested that Malaysiakini refers the matter to Zahid. She did not deny sending the SMS.

Nonetheless, Ali said the army veterans were not fazed by the SMS threat and that the next Friday's protest had to be put off because he was informed that the minister would be away from his office that day.

"If I blow the whistle, thousands of (PVTM) members will descend on Mindef. I don’t care about that SMS," he said.

11-point demand outlined

The protest was planned to claim welfare benefits for former soldiers.

NONE The group had previously accused Zahid of not delivering promises related to pensions and consolations for those who were not eligible to get pensions.

The group came into public attention recently when it held a ‘butt protest’ in front of Bersih co-chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan’s house.

At the press conference in Cheras, Kuala Lumpur today, Ali reiterated his demand that the defence minister should be more concerned about the welfare of the army veterans, especially those who retired without a pension.

He outlined an 11-point demand, among which includes a call for veterans above 60 years to receive RM1,000 in monthly living allowance instead of between RM100 and RM200 a month.

After reading out the demands, Ali gave Zahid 136 hours, from the start of the press conference at 4pm today, to hold a dialogue with PVTM, failing which the group would pressure Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to sack him.

The deadline ends at 8am on June 28.

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