Give our military the respect they deserve

By Mariam Mokhtar
 
National Patriots Association president Brig-Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji recently urged the new defence minister, Mohamad Sabu, to stop the practice of politicians wearing military uniforms.

Arshad, who also voiced his disdain for honorary ranks, said previous defence ministers had misused military uniforms, turning them into “fashion statements”.

He gave the example of Parachutist Badge uniforms, which should only be worn by military parachutists.

“People have died to save their country in (parachute) jumps. Have they ever made a single jump?” he asked, referring to politicians.

Arshad said the practice of giving honorary ranks to individuals such as politicians, civil servants, sportsmen and celebrities diminished the respect for the military, whose personnel had spent years attaining their ranks through hard work.

Many who have been awarded honorary ranks have never fired a single shot in defence of the country, nor have they completed even a day of basic military training.

They did not have to withstand mental pressure or prove themselves by showing their dedication and discipline, and enduring the physical pain of various hurdles on either the training ground or the battleground.

Many officers, both serving and retired, agree that the practice of awarding honorary ranks makes a mockery of the commitment and patriotism of the armed forces and police personnel.

One social cynic said, “Seeing obese and obviously unfit civil servants wearing the uniform of a high ranking officer is an abuse of the honorary award system. Some do not even wear their uniforms properly.”

One of the most high profile politicians to receive an honorary rank was Brigadier-General Khairy Jamaluddin, the former youth and sports minister. It appears that he cannot decide what he would rather be. He prides himself on being the only minister to have taken part in the SEA Games where he played polo. So what is he? A minister, an MP, a polo player or a soldier?

It’s time our military personnel were accorded the respect they deserve. Only serving and retired servicemen should wear a uniform, for it is their right and their badge of honour.