Speaking at a press conference, Pahlawan President Asri Awang said the NGOs had established a secretariat to pursue fulfilment of the demands, which include an increase in pensions and the provision of land or affordable homes for veterans.
The group is also asking the government to place those who retired without pensions into a new pension scheme and to allow pensions to be inherited by the next of kin.
Unless the Defence Ministry responds within 14 days, according to Asri, the group will go on a road show to get signatures of army veterans for a memorandum to be submitted directly to the Yang diPertuan Agong and the Malay rulers.
Asri said the secretariat was formed following a recent announcement by Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein that there would be a salary increase for current army personnel effective July 1.
“He failed to mention what would become of those who have already served the country,” he said.
He noted that the current maximum pension for veterans is RM1,600 a month and said this put them below the poverty line.