216 army veterans receive entrepreneurial grants totalling RM1.08 mln nationwide

KOTA SAMARAHAN (Nov 20): A total of 216 army veterans have benefited from government grants totalling RM1,080,000 under the Army Veterans Entrepreneurial Programme (PUVET ATM) since its inception in 2023.

The sum from the federal Rural and Regional Development Ministry for the army veterans’ Welfare Assistance Scheme aims to improve their productivity and expand markets for their products, said Army Veterans Affairs Board (Perhebat) chairman Gen (Rtd) Tan Sri Datuk Seri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin.

To date, 5,202 army personnel and veterans have successfully obtained their skills diploma through the Recognition of Prior Experiential Learning (RPEL) programme.

“The role and contributions of Perhebat are significant in shaping the second career of army veterans.

“Perhebat has been entrusted to guide and equip potential retirees with plans pursuant to their second career,” he said at the state-level presentation of diploma certificates under RPEL and Perhebat’s transition training certificates to several army personnel and veterans at the civic centre here yesterday.

Apart from HRD Corp, Perhebat also collaborates with private agencies such as Talent Corp via Veteran MyWira, Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), Pos Aviation Sdn Bhd, Micron Memory Malaysia, Boustead Properties Bhd, and Airbus Helicopters Malaysia Sdn Bhd to secure jobs for veterans.

A total of 203 veterans have obtained jobs such as aircraft maintenance technicians, managers, supervisors, safety officers, operation officers, and driving school tutors, among others.

This year, a total of 2,716 army personnel completed their transition training nationwide, while 477 personnel and veterans received their skills diploma, he said.

During yesterday’s programme, 92 army personnel completed their transition training while another four received their skills diploma.

In Sarawak, Perhebat has provided them with a variety of courses in line with their general requests including entrepreneurial courses, agro farming, as well as bag and cushion sewing courses.

Zulkifeli, who visited an agriculture site PLBV Kuching, Penrissen Camp earlier, said he was impressed with the some 300kg of chillies produced by the current trainees there.

He said Perhebat is also monitoring the progress of 6,851 veterans who completed their transition training nationwide in 2023.

From that figure, 3,142 veterans are either employed or self-employed.

Another 30 per cent are jobless or still looking for jobs, he said, adding there is still room to improve Perhebat.