KUALA LUMPUR: Retired air force warrant officer II Jit Singh lost both his legs, but still walks tall.
Jit, who will turn 71 on March 13, is still full of vigour despite having both legs amputated below the knee due to severe diabetes, three years ago.
“My condition worsened severely and the doctors had little choice but to amputate one leg first in May 2015 and the second in June, the same year.
“But, thankfully, I am able to move around with prosthetic legs and the aid of a walker,” said Jit, who had served the Royal Malaysian Air Force for 22 years as an air traffic controller, before retiring in 1992.
Before he lost his legs, Jit drove a taxi for more than 20 years.
“That kept me going as it supplemented my income.
“Now I have to rely on my small yet handy pension to get by,” said Jit, who previously served at the Kuala Lumpur, Labuan, Kluang and Kuantan air bases.
He told the New Straits Times this after receiving a token welfare aid from the Malaysian Armed Forces Sikh Veterans Association (Mafsva) at Fauji Barracks in Section 6, Petaling Jaya.
A total of 22 disabled Sikh veterans and their next-of-kin, aged between 24 and 78, received cash contributions of between RM300 and RM500, each.
Present to officiate was Indian High Commission defence adviser Col Anirudh Chauhan, his wife Madhu Chauhan, Mafsva president Major (Rtd) Baldev Singh and Fauji Barracks PMC (president of the mess committee) Lt Col (Rtd) Baldev Singh.
At the event, war veteran Anirudh was made an honorary member of Mafsva.
Jit said he, like the other recipients, greatly appreciated the small yet meaningful handouts.
“Some of us depend on such welfare to keep us going in our twilight years.
“The occasion was also very touching as it offered me a chance to catch up with my old comrades, whom I have not met for umpteen years since leaving service,” he said.
Jit and his wife, Jasbir Kaur, have two daughters and a son.
Jit said his daily routine consisted of morning and evening walks.
“Other than that, I have a cat nap after lunch and spend time with my children and grandchildren,” he said.
Mafsva secretary retired warrant officer I Avtar Singh said the association had topped up the contributions originally channeled from the Armed Forces Veterans Association’s welfare fund.
He said Mafsva had a membership of 407, including 281 life members.