Give us the names or face legal action, LTAT tells Rafizi

The Armed Forces Fund Board (LTAT) will file legal action against PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli tomorrow unless he reveals the names of retired military personnel who have allegedly not received their gratuity payments.

LTAT chairperson Mohd Anwar Mohd Nor in a statement said this was because Rafizi has publicly alleged that a “sizable number” of retired military personnel have not received their gratuity payments.

“We have met all our obligations and to insinuate otherwise is slanderous with a view to smearing the good reputation and credibility of LTAT,” he said.

Rafizi had reportedly claimed that there were some 12,000 army pensioners who have not received their LTAT members’ contribution since 2014, allegedly due to links between the fund and state-investor 1MDB.

He also said he received complaints from some veterans that they have not received their compensation despite retiring six months ago.

Anwar, in response, said: “With reference to gratuity payments made by LTAT for members who have concluded their service with the armed forces, all completed and approved applications for payments received by LTAT from Urusan Gaji Angkatan Tentera (UGAT) under the Defence Ministry have been processed and payments have been fulfilled.”

“We wish to stress that all payments to retired military personnel are made within 24-hours of LTAT receiving the completed and approved documents,” he said.

Anwar also accused Rafizi of making unfounded and misleading connections between the Pangkalan Udara Kuala Lumpur (PUKL) project undertaken by Perbadanan Perwira Harta Malaysia (PPHM) and the gratuity payments by LTAT for members who have concluded their service with the armed forces.

“LTAT’s capacity to meet its financial obligations is in no way dependent on payments received for the PUKL project.

“LTAT has a diversified investment portfolio and from the income and proceeds it receives from dividends, profits from its share trading, rental income as well as contributions from its members, LTAT’s cash inflow has always exceeded its cash outflow,” said Anwar.

He also reiterated that all payments by 1MDB to PPHM have been fulfilled on schedule and PPHM, being the turnkey contractor for 1MDB on the PUKL project, has in turn paid all its subcontractors on amounts due. -Mkini