Kuala Lumpur: A total of 25,000 Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) veterans have secured second employment following their completion of Transition Training under the Armed Forces Veterans Affairs Corporation (Perhebat), aimed at ensuring a better future and life for these individuals.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari revealed that 70 percent of these veterans have ventured into entrepreneurship, while the remainder have found roles in various other sectors. "We think that entrepreneurship is not an easy field and has its challenges, but they have the capital when they receive financial reward from the government after completing their service," said Adly. He emphasized the importance of providing veterans with diverse career options, including opportunities in the semiconductor and electronics (E and E) industries, given the annual retirement of over 5,000 soldiers.
Adly shared these insights during an engagement session with participants of the MyWira Veterans Programme at Micron Memory Malaysia. The event was also attended by Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) CEO Thomas Mathew and Micron Memory VP Ramu Iyer. The MyWIRA Veterans Programme, launched in January 2024, is a collaborative effort between TalentCorp, under the Ministry of Human Resources (Kesuma), and Perhebat, aimed at facilitating job placements for military veterans.
Further elaborating on the initiative, Adly reaffirmed the government's commitment to ensuring MAF veterans achieve a quality second career. He acknowledged the significant challenges faced by veterans, noting that many retire at the age of 40, resulting in a loss of income while still bearing family and social responsibilities.
Adly also mentioned ongoing collaborations with other ministries to integrate military veterans into various government segments through specialized expertise, despite some limitations in opportunities. "We must work with the Public Service Department to integrate MAF members. For example, we do take veterans in the National Service Training Programme because some of them become trainers," he added. He highlighted the broader opportunities within the semiconductor and E and E industries and expressed confidence that with appropriate training, veterans are well-prepared to contribute to these sectors.
The programme at Micron Memory Malaysia has successfully provided six months of training in technical and supervisory fields across two cohorts, involving 133 candidates. This initiative underscores the veterans' strong commitment to continuing their service to the country in new capacities.