Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said they can expect the payment by January.

“This is in line with the government’s practice of caring for non-pensionable army veterans (by also) giving them the special aid,” he said in a statement.

Currently, military personnel can leave the service after 12, 15 or 18 years of contract but they will not be eligible for a pension.

In April, then defence minister Ismail said the government was looking at making it compulsory for members of the armed forces to serve for 21 years to qualify for pension.

Ismail said the veterans affairs department estimates that there are about 300,000 veterans as of Sept 30, with 82,000 of them without pension.

He also called for non-pensionable army veterans who have not registered themselves with the department to do so to receive the aid.