Rape, brawls, deaths reasons enough to scrap NS for good

UMANY also cites food poisoning including questionable safety and cleanliness issues as reasons why National Service programme should be scrapped.

KUALA LUMPUR: UMANY (University Malaya Association of New Youth) has called on the Federal Government to scrap the National Service Training Programme instead of merely suspending it for just this year as part of the revised Budget 2015.

The programme, introduced by then Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi in order to “instil patriotism, positive characteristics, unity, spirit of caring as well as civil awareness”, noted the association, had failed to meet the set objectives even after so many years.

“After ten years of the programme, there has been no obvious decline in the crime rate and social problems,” said UMANY in a statement. “Ethnic relations have continued to deteriorate.”

“There’s a high incidence of rape, brawling, food poisoning and deaths at National Service Camps. The safety and cleanliness standards are questionable.”

Besides, added the statement, there’s rampant crony corruption and embezzlement.

The association pointed out that merely suspending the programme meant that the taxpayer continued to fund it by paying the salaries of the National Service Centre operators, coaches, and staff while meeting financial obligations to contractors and suppliers.

“It’s like that they are having paid holidays for a year while those providing outsourced services continue to get paid, under their contracts, although not providing any services.”

The statement did not dwell on the concept of National Service itself.