Ex-Sarawak rangers feel slighted over RM3,000 one-off payment

EX-SARAWAK rangers, who served during the Confrontation and Malayan Emergency, are slighted as their plea for the one-off RM3,000 payment enjoyed by ex-policemen had yet to get a reply. !Sarawak Rangers Association secretary-general Capt (R) Mohd Johari Ibrahim said the association brought up the matter with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zahid Hamidi in Sibu recently. !"The minister has promised that he would bring up the matter with the prime minister, but have not heard any development since," Mohd Johari told a news conference at the Armed Forces Veteran Affairs Department here today. !Mohd Johari, who is also Sarawak Retired Ranger Regiment Cooperative adviser, said some 40,000 ex-Sarawak rangers fought against communist insurgents in the jungle during the confrontation and emergency like the police but no mention was made that they would also be the recipients of the aid. !Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, when tabling the Budget 2012, announced that ex-policeman who served during the Malayan Emergency between 1948 to 1962 in 1962 and 1974 the peninsula and Sabah and Sarawak would receive the RM3,000 aid. !The payment will be made to the Special Constabulary, Home Guard, Auxiliary Police, Extra Police Constable, Border Scout, Jungle Scout/ Squad, Police Field Force Reservist and Sarawak Constabulary. Bernama