Veterans of the Malaysian Armed Forces will receive RM500 special financial assistance through the Prihatin Rakyat Economic Stimulus Package.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the one-off assistance would be provided to about 179,198 non-pensionable ex-servicemen involving an allocation of RM89.5 million.

However, he said the payment did not involve non-pensioners' next-of-kin.

"The ATM Veterans Affairs Department (JHEV) will handle these payments to affected ATM veterans starting April 23, which will be deposited into their bank accounts.

"The Ministry of Defence would like to express its appreciation for the government's concern in extending this special assistance to non-pensionable ATM veterans especially in the face of the COVID-19 outbreak," he told Bernama here today.

He said so far, only 65,000 non-pensionable veterans have registered with JHEV.

"Many more have not signed up so I am urging them to register before the Oct 31 deadline this year to receive the assistance," he said.

Registration can be made at http://register.jhev.gov.my.

-- BERNAMA