KUALA LUMPUR: Contributors to the Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) are allowed to withdraw money to perform the Haj and further their studies at a local public university from today.

       Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein (pic) said those intending to make a withdrawal to perform the Haj would have to submit the Haj pilgrimage offer letter from the Pilgrims’ Fund Board (TH) and would have had to be an LTAT contributor for at least 15 years.

       He said the maximum withdrawal for the Haj was RM10,000.

       “For education, contributors pursuing a diploma, degree, master’s degree or doctorate at a local public university are allowed a maximum withdrawal of RM3,200 to pay the registration fees for the first semester.

       “Withdrawals for the two purposes are only allowed once during their service,” Bernama quoted him as saying at a press conference after the presentation of Hari Raya Aidilfitri donations to the Defence Ministry here yesterday.

       Apart from that, he said the ministry had also agreed to increase the rate of Overseas Port Stopover Allowance for Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) crew from RM20 to RM50 per day.

       Meanwhile, Hishammuddin said the Public Service Department had confirmed that the Leave Replacement Benefit (FGCR) given to civil servants would also be extended to members of the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM).

       He said the FGCR had also been increased from a maximum of 150 days to 160 days.

       “They are able to enjoy an advance payment equivalent to 80 days of leave without having to wait until the end of service,” he added.

       Hishammuddin said he had instructed the Veterans Affairs Department to expedite the distribution of Special Financial Assistance (BKK) amounting to RM350 to ATM veterans.

       “This is because there are many ATM veterans who complained on social media that they have not received BKK assistance as announced during the tabling of Budget 2022,” he said.

       Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, when tabling the national budget last year announced that one million government retirees would receive Special Financial Assistance amounting to RM350.

       Earlier, 77 contributors donated cash and goods amounting to RM1,881,180 to the Defence Ministry.

       A total of 15,000 bags containing Hari Raya goodies will be distributed to ATM personnel working at the border in and outside the country, including those serving with the United Nations International Monitoring Team in Mindanao, the Philippines.

       Also present at the event were ATM chief Jen Tan Sri Affendi Buang, Army chief Jen Tan Sri Zamrose Mohd Zain, Navy chief Admiral Tan Sri Mohd Reza Mohd Sany and Air Force chief Jen Datuk Seri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan.