Pensioners of the Royal Military Police (MP) Corps are crying that their years of service and sacrifice to the nation seem to have been forgotten by the authorities.

At an event to commemorate its 62nd anniversary at a posh club in Sungai Petani on Friday, several pensioners expressed their disappointment and sadness about being forsaken.

According to former Warrant I officer Jalaini Mohamed, they were often told their contributions to the nation would be appreciated.

"But I have retired about 10 years. And not just me but also my colleagues from the north zone - from Perak to Perlis - have been neglected. I worked in the corps for 22 years and gave all I had, but feel I'm not appreciated at all.

"No one asks about us or wants to include us in their programmes," lamented the 52 year old, who runs his own small business in Kedah.

"Some of my colleagues are sick and need help and medical treatment, but we are not being treated as we had hoped, as we were promised," he added.

From 1984 to 2006, Jailaini was with the MP in Sarawak, Sabah, and Kuala Lumpur until he retired in Malacca, before returning to his hometown in Sungai Petani.

He said the pensioners do not ask much but merely hoped their services will be remembered by the authorities.

They also feel slighted when they not invited to events organised by the current military police.

The MP also celebrated their anniversary on Nov 12 in Klang this year.

Redcaps to gather

Jailani and his former colleagues are starting a movement to gather all the MP pensioners so that they can care for each other.

The MP were previously referred to as "Redcaps" and their role is to maintain discipline within the ranks and ensure security in the army.

They were formed by the British, on Nov 12, 1953, before Merdeka and perform provost duties as well as assist civil authorities in keeping public order.

After Independence, the unit was called the Malaysian Military Police Corps and was bestowed the "DiRaja" title on June 7, 1997.

Meanwhile, Azhar Ahmad, who previously held the rank of a major, also complained that he was not contacted by anyone from the MP after his retirement.

"I only recently retired and they should still have my name but I have never got any invitation to any MP event," said the 50 year old pensioner who runs a mini market in Gurun, Kedah.

Major (retired) Ahmad Zaidi Shuib, who heads the north zone ex-MP corp, said the duties of his unit's included organising convoys during war, maintaining discipline and investigating crime in the ranks.

For example, if any army personnel commits murder, the MP would arrest, probe and report the case to the higher authorities at the Defence Ministry, he said.

He added the MPs also had protocol duties and kept watch during events involving royalties.

He felt that the pensioners could still contribute a lot to the nation because they are armed with much experience and knowledge about the military and police.

"But no one sees us now, we have just been kept aside," he brooded, adding that the some of the pensioners were still able-bodied and too young to lead a pensioner's life.

"Which is why we are trying to look for all our former comrades. We have not had a gathering after we pensioned off, although the MP has been in operations for 62 years," said Zaidi, 50, who was with the MP 22 years before his retirement.

He said the group has plans to form an association or NGO to oversee the welfare of their members, especially those who are poor and sick.

"We do not want to just end up being forgotten, forsaken or marginalised just like that, after giving our lives to the nation," asserted Zaidi, who is now with the Land and Transport Commission in Kedah.