KUALA LUMPUR: New members of the armed forces will continue to receive a pension scheme, even as the government rolls out a new retirement plan for civil service employees.
Confirming this, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that the welfare of armed forces personnel would remain a priority, acknowledging their sacrifices in defending the nation.
He said this included support in areas such as housing and education for their children.
"Starting next year, new public sector employees will no longer receive pensions, but this will not apply to those joining the armed forces."
"This underscores the unique benefits of serving in the military. Unlike civilian government employees, who do not have a dedicated support system after retirement, armed forces personnel are cared for by the Veterans' Affairs Department," he added.
Earlier this year, the government unveiled a new pension scheme for civil servants, where new hires will contribute to retirement savings via the Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).
This change is part of a broader initiative to align the public sector's retirement contributions with those of the private sector.