Wan Ramly Wan Seman, who confirmed this, said he has engaged lawyers to seek redress and will leave it to them to comment when the time comes.

It is understood that a prominent lawyer has agreed to handle his case with the help of a couple of others believed to be linked to the Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia. This association is part of the Gerakan Post Mortem Covid-19 (GPMC), a multi-racial anti-vaccination group of about 200 NGOs.

The lawyers are expected to file the case next week, with sources saying they are doing it pro bono because his sacking has violated a right enshrined in the Federal Constitution, although the mandatory vaccination order was issued by the military under the Armed Forces Act 1972.

Yesterday, Wan Ramly was part of the group that had gone to Istana Negara to hand over a memorandum to the King calling for a review of the vaccination programme.

Speaking to reporters after the event, he said his decision not to be vaccinated was final and he was merely exercising his rights.

“Representatives of the armed forces visited me last week to encourage me to get jabbed and return to work. I politely declined their offer and I know they were doing their duty.

“I explained my reasons and they seemed to understand and were nice to me, there was no coercion whatsoever. I thank the armed forces authorities for this,” he said.

This issue hit the limelight when Wan Ramly was given a dishonourable discharge on Aug 26 for refusing to be vaccinated.

He had served for more than 19 years with the Royal Malay Regiment, his last base being Kem Rasah in Negeri Sembilan. He will lose his monthly pension of about RM2,200 which he could have qualified for in a year.

He was counselled several times unsuccessfully before he was charged with insubordination and sacked after the army authorities declined his request for a court martial where he could have been represented by lawyers.

GPMC spokesman Noorazman Mohd Samsuddin said an official from the Istana accepted the memorandum.