Patriot slams vets for campaigning in army berets with Najib

[superadmin]

JOHOR BARU – Armed forces veterans’ group Patriot took some army veterans wearing green berets to task after they were seen with former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak on his campaign trail for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the run-up to the Johor election this Saturday.

Its president Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji said that the former members of an elite security force tasked to defend the nation should uphold their principles and refrain from being tarnished by political and vested interests.

Najib is currently the adviser for BN.

"It is most alarming that our veterans – and trained commandos, mind you – are seen on the Johor election’s campaign trail seemingly throwing their support for a political party leader and MP whose appeal is pending following the court’s recent ruling that he is guilty as charged,” he said in a statement today.

He said witnessing the former elite soldiers gathering alongside Najib was both degrading and demoralising given that the Pekan MP has been labelled as a “national embarrassment” and a “plundering idiot”.

Given that Malaysia is a democratic nation, veterans can take part in political campaigns, he stressed, adding that retired soldiers must play a constructive role as responsible citizens.

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