I guess heroes do not count for much, here in Malaysia. Heroes do cry. Capt (Rtd) Mukhtiar Singh, 75, was moved to tears yesterday after learning that the country he had risked his life to protect had deserted him, yet again, denying him the pension he deserves. Silently, Mukhtiar read a copy of the official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence which rejected his claim. When he broke that silence, Mukhtiar said: "I'm sad. I'm very sad. "Not a single word about my service in the police force was mentioned. It's as if they do not want to recognise my contributions to the country.
During those days, every day death was looking me in the face. There were many times when I narrowly escaped (injury from) knives and bullets. In fact, I'm lucky to be talking to you today," he said, his voice quavering. "When it comes down to it, how different is it being with the police and the army? The colour of the uniforms might have been different but the duties were still the same — keeping the peace of the country. It's ironic that the matter of my pension is cast aside just because I missed the Platoon Weapons and Young Officers Tactics courses by no fault of my own. And the ministry says that my failure to attend the course is debatable. I'd like a debate with it (the ministry)."
In our front-page article on Oct 20, Mukhtiar said he was not informed or instructed to attend the courses mentioned as they were meant for newer army officers. Furthermore, he had been an instructor on these matters for more than 17 years. Mukhtiar felt it was unfair for the ministry to write off the years he spent in the police force as that was when he had made the most contributions as a serviceman.
He said that even a government servant, regardless of his field and with fewer years of service than he, had the benefit of retiring with a pension. At one point, Mukhtiar paused to wipe the tears from his eyes. "At this old age, what benefit have I got from the country, after serving it for so long? Look at our national badminton players. You play badminton, win one trophy and what do you get?
RM300,000 for winning, on top of a monthly allowance of RM5,000. A Datukship. I'm not saying that these sportsmen's contributions mean nothing but what I am asking for is so little in comparison. The accumulated amount I would have had if I had been granted my pension would not even have amounted to RM175,000," he said.
When asked what his next course of action would be, Mukhtiar said he might seek legal redress. "I've not been given much of a choice, so let the whole story be told in court and we shall see what the outcome will be," he said, adding that he still had support from members of the public, several Members of Parliament as well as the Ex-Services Association of Malaysia.
Mukhtiar enlisted in the police force at the age of 16 in 1948 and fought valiantly against the communist threat. He was honoured for gallantry by Queen Elizabeth and awarded the Pingat Jasa Kebaktian by the Sultan of Selangor. He joined the army as a sergeant in 1961 and retired in 1978 but was told by the Defence Ministry there was no pension for him because he did not attend the Platoon Weapons and Young Officers Tactics courses, which were compulsory courses for servicemen.
The Malay Mail. 
