PRESS STATEMENT : PATRIOT on Green Beret & that Convicted Felon.

PERSATUAN PATRIOT KEBANGSAAN (PPK) (NATIONAL PATRIOT ASSOCIATION) (ROS PPM-005-14-22052017)

Press Statement Wednesday, 9 Mac 2022 Army Commandos in Green Beret seen campaigning along with a convicted criminal is disgraceful

A video showing a group of veterans of the Malaysian army commandos adorning the prestigious ‘Green Beret’ while accompanying former Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in the ongoing political campaign in Johor is going viral in chat-groups.

I wish to admonish that as veterans of an elite national security force highly trained and disciplined to defend the nation, one must uphold principles and not let these be tarnished or tainted with political and vested interests.

It is most alarming that our veterans – and trained commandos, mind you, are seen on the Johor State Election’s campaign trail seemingly throwing their support for a political party leader and Member of Parliament whose appeal is pending following the Court’s recent ruling that he is guilty as charged.

Such open display by trained and disciplined soldiers is by any moral and ethical standard deemed improper, unusual and certainly unthinkable.

There can never be anything more degrading, and demoralizing to say the least, to witness these veteran commandos from the nation’s elite special forces gathering in unison with a convicted criminal who is labelled in various media reports (local and foreign) as a ‘national embarrassment’ and a ‘plundering idiot’.

Patriot has no issue if veteran groups participate in political campaigns, as we are a democratic nation. In fact, even though we may be retired soldiers or ex-servicemen and women, we can and must play a constructive role as responsible citizens in the shaping of our nation’s better political future and its stability.

But to be seen attired with any form of accouterments recognizable to the Armed Forces at such political campaign circuits – and more so when in the presence of an individual who has been convicted in court, is not only improper and distasteful but critically in serious breach of the honorable stature of the vocation and the reputable status of the Armed Forces.

Patriot would like to remind former members of the Armed Forces to uphold true to their pledges of defending the nation with a conscionable soul even though we may have retired from active duty.

It is paramount that as ex-soldiers we uphold the disciplined and rigorous training and military credos we were in benefit of throughout our active service for the nation. The wearing of the prestigious, honorable and distinguished ‘Green Beret’ at political campaigns must be condemned and stopped.

Brigadier General Dato’ Mohamed Arshad Raji (Bersara) President Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan MALAYSIA (CONTACT : +60173588361)