Rudyard Kipling"
“When you're left wounded on Afganistan's plains and
the women come out to cut up what remains, Just roll to your rifle
and blow out your brains,
And go to your God like a soldier”
General Douglas MacArthur"
“We are not retreating. We are advancing in another direction.”
“It is fatal to enter any war without the will to win it.” “Old soldiers never die; they just fade away.
“The soldier, above all other people, prays for peace, for he must suffer and be the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
“May God have mercy upon my enemies, because I won't .” “The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his.
“Nobody ever defended, there is only attack and attack and attack some more.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.
The Soldier stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as bright as his brass
"Step forward you Soldier,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint."
I've had to work on Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep.
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep,
The Soldier squared his shoulders and said
And I never passed a cry for help
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward now, you Soldier,
You've borne your burden well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."
Are pensioners of ‘lower status’ than judges, ask pensioners and army vets, who want the PM to look into their plight, too
Monday, December 02, 2024
The Edge : KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 2): Pensioners
and army veterans have asked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to
look into their plight, especially those who retired before 2013, as
they are receiving less pension over the years, owing to the Pensions
Adjustment (Amendment) Act 2013 (PAA 2013), which the courts have
declared as being unconstitutional, but no action has been taken as yet
by the government to set the matter right.
Lieutenant Commander (Rtd) Rafique
Ali Ahmad Nordin, representing the pensioners, said ex-judges who had
experienced the same fate under the Judges’ Remuneration Amendment Act
2014 had received their dues last month, and questioned why the present
government is delaying settling this case for the rest of the
pensioners.
“The former judges have seen their
dues paid last month. However, what about the rest of us pensioners and
army veterans? We still have to wait?
“The Court of Appeal and Federal
Court have already ruled PAA 2013 to be unconstitutional. Hence, the
present Madani Government should pay what is due to us. We hope the PM
(who is also the finance minister) will look into this and allow us to
meet him,” Rafique added.
He further questioned whether the
present Anwar Government views other pensioners or veterans to be of
lower status, compared to judges or others.
Lieutenant Commander (Rtd) Rafique Ali Ahmad
Nordin (back row, centre right) stands with the other pensioners at the
KL High Court on Monday.
“All of us pensioners are affected by this issue, as it affects our pension and livelihood.
“Hence, we plead to the Government
to be concerned over our plight, especially as the court has already
ruled that the PAA runs contrary to Article 147,” Rafique added.
The High Court was supposed to
have given its decision on Monday, on whether to order the government to
pay the pensioners their dues, but were informed on the day itself that
High Court judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh Serjit Singh had announced that
he would deliver his decision on Jan 16 next year, instead of on Monday.
