Malaysia Revives Pardon Board for Former Military Personnel

Malaysia's Department of Veteran Affairs (JHEV) has reactivated a pardon board to re-evaluate former military personnel seeking veteran status. The board, which some believed was dissolved, was actually only suspended around 2024, according to the department's Director General, Major General Datuk Semaon Marjuki.

"At first, around 2024, we suspended the panel, not canceled it. Now the panel has been revived, and we will see how many are truly eligible based on the established regulations," Semaon told reporters. The panel will meticulously examine each application, considering the justifications and reasons why former members were not recognized as veterans previously.

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At first, around 2024, we suspended the panel, not canceled it. Now the panel has been revived, and we will see how many are truly eligible based on the established regulations.

Semaon indicated the board would primarily consider cases involving minor disciplinary infractions during service. However, he clarified that applications from those dismissed under specific provisions, particularly those decided by military courts, or for severe offenses like drug abuse and serious disciplinary misconduct, would be extremely difficult to reconsider for veteran recognition.

In parallel, JHEV ATM is focusing on strengthening veterans' economic well-being by creating more post-service employment opportunities. They have partnered with private companies and government agencies, facilitating placements as wardens at MARA Junior Science Colleges, border control agents, ministry rangers, and security personnel in Sabah and Sarawak. Over 700 veterans now serve in various departments nationwide, with nearly 1,000 in Sarawak joining the state's border enforcement team. The government also supports veteran employability through programs like Work-Based Learning, Protege Ready to Work, and upskilling/reskilling initiatives, particularly for those retiring in their late 30s or early 40s who remain highly productive.

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We recommend to His Excellency the Minister of State, Minister of Justice and Keeper of the Seals, to urgently organize a visit to Boma prison to witness firsthand the unacceptable conditions in which the detainees live, so that urgent and palliative measures can be found.