Can they survive Malaysia’s nasty and polarised politics?

The lead coordinator of Parti Kemakmuran Negara, Capt (Rtd) Shahruddin Omar, told FMT in an interview that veterans were offering themselves as an antidote to Malaysia’s partisan rancour, entrenched politics, poor governance and corruption.

The party, called Kemakmuran (prosperity) for short, was launched last Wednesday.

Sharuddin said the mission was to dig Malaysia out of political gridlock with an others-first mindset adopted through military service.

“Anyone who joins the military always helps people,” said Shahruddin, who is also president of the 170,000-strong Veterans Association of the Malaysian Armed Forces.

He also spoke of the poor treatment of veterans in Malaysia, branding it a “sham”, and vowed to honour them as one of the key principles of the party’s policy.

Excerpts of the interview:

Will people accept military veterans as a group in Malaysian politics?

We need a fresh approach to our politics and people should not take veterans as an isolated lot. We fought to secure the country from external forces and we now want to protect the internal situation through Parliament.

If you ignore the voice of the veterans, it can create instability in the community.

We have a special sensitivity to whatever happens in the country. When Malaysians don’t get what they deserve, we, too, feel hurt and sad.

We want our sacrifices to be rewarded to the Malaysian people.

How long has this frustration been festering?

When the communist insurgents laid down their arms in 1989, the nation and the land was free from any disturbance. Our expectation then was for the politicians, who were given the mandate to administer the country, to rule with honour.

Instead, after more than 30 years, we have many unsolved problems and the nation is headed nowhere.

Will veterans in politics make the system better?

We always put the country ahead of ourselves and that is critical and necessary for a country to prosper. We tend to be less parochial, more objective and more result-driven than the average political actor.

Veterans accept a natural chain of command as do like-minded civilians and we have the courage to fix Malaysia’s broken politics.

Career politicians just won’t listen any more and that’s why we have gone down this route.

Are veterans equipped to deal with divisive issues?

Many veterans have been around the world and immersed themselves in other cultures, so dealing with racial, religious and other societal issues comes naturally to them.

Our drive is to serve and be a part of something larger than ourselves, something that is drastically lacking in today’s politics.

Those in public office must be accountable to their team and constituents.

What unites veterans, both men and women, into joining the movement?

We are a multiracial party and it’s all about trust and a shared identity.

They have realised the importance of having one voice in their shared commitment to see a better Malaysia.

We want to make sure the government of the day is stable and can perform to give good returns to the people.

Would the young generation feel excluded in a party that comprises veterans?

When you lead, you lead with capabilities. You must make sure the youth look at your heart and learn and aspire to gain knowledge in order to become future leaders.

Any youth organisation, NGO or political party that is in line with our mission is welcome to join us.

What are the issues involving veterans that also triggered this political activism?

A big percentage of the 306,000 veterans nationwide feel their sensitivities have not been accommodated by the present and past administrations.

Their disgruntlement, coupled with the security of the country and current economic climate, is over the disparity in pensions, unhappiness over welfare and lack of respect for veterans’ contributions to the nation.

Real security requires decent pay, proper housing, support for armed forces personnel and their families which includes improved access to schools for their children and a way to get their voices heard.

Will the party push for a review of soldiers who were unfavourably discharged over minor misconduct?

The 20,000 unrecognised veterans who were dismissed for various offences, big and small, are on our radar.

Those who were booted out for minor misconduct have been deprived of government benefits while their children have been denied educational opportunities.

As long as you serve even if it’s just for one day, you are deemed a veteran but it doesn’t apply to those who have been dismissed.

How many candidates will the party field in GE15?

The plan is to vie for 50 parliamentary seats but if any NGO or political party is keen to join forces with us, we might target 150 federal and state seats.

There are many highly qualified veterans with masters and PhD degrees from all age groups and ranks. Their skill sets will help the party focus sharply on education, health, economy and security.

As newcomers to politics and with little experience in fundraising, how will the campaigns be financed?

The asset of veterans is their heart. The pillars are integrity and image representing honour, respect, valour, sacrifice, discipline and life-promoting values.

What if GE15 proves to be a dismal outing?

If we lose, we will not surrender. The battle will never stop. The aim is to hand over to our children a well-ordered society with respect for individual rights and freedoms.