By Vincent D’Silva

JOHOR BARU: The Malaysian Armed Forces Indian Veterans Association (MAFIVA), Johor is currently looking for place to call it their own.

MAFIVA Johor chairman Kanniah Appudu said they have sighted a place in Plentong and have appealed to the Land Office for consideration.

“We need to have a place so that we can have activities of our own and can conduct programmes for our members,” said Kanniah.

MAFIVA has veterans who are above 80 years old and who are disabled (OKU) and the association has been providing welfare aid, medical support and financial assistance to them.

“Our association has never neglected them and we ensure they are well taken care off,” he stressed.

During the recent floods in Johor, MAFIVA acted swiftly to assist more than 95 families affected by the floods providing them with rice cookers.

“The areas we covered were Chaah, Segamat, Pasir Gudang and Kota Tinggi  where their homes were badly affected,” he said.

Kanniah said in the case of death of any association members, the association would then assist the deceased family by providing a RM300 aid.

“Besides that, the family will also receive aid from the Malaysian Armed Forces Veteran Affairs Department,” he said.

Currently, MAFIVA is providing assistance to its members on Will writing and to anyone who wishes to prepare a Will. “The charge is only RM500 and is authorised by MyAngkasa,” he said.

The association also render assistance to families who need help to dispose ashes at a rate of RM250.

The association is in need for funds to run several projects as a number of retired army veterans currently need help.

They are also appealing to the government to have their pension raised and be at par like other pensioners. “We hope that our pension is increased as cost of living has risen tremendously.”

For the upcoming Deepavali celebrations, MAFIVA has planned an outing for all its members for a grand reunion.

“We want to bring all our former members together for a special get-together so that we can share, mingle and unite under one umbrella,” he stressed.

He said the association has applied from the Johor Menteri Besar’s office for an allocation of RM30,000 for this event.

Meanwhile, Kanniah expressed his thanks to the Johor state Exco for Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture Raven Kumar Krishnasamy, for his continued support and sponsoring the Yayasan Warisan Hall for the association’s use of their AGM recently.

He also thanked Sharil Nizam Abdul Rahim, the director of Yayasan Warisan Johor for providing the place and the use of the facilities.

Kanniah also expressed his gratitude to member of parliament for Pasir Gudang Hassan Karim for his kind contributions and assistance provided thus far.

Those members or anyone interested in preparing a Will, may contact Kanniah Appudu at: 011-11248270.

Members of MAFIVA and invited guests lighting up the kuthuvilakku (brass oil lamp) at the start of the association’s AGM