Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has objected to the revival of the National Service programme, saying that the funding could be better used.
The Muar MP said the previous Pakatan Harapan-led administration had terminated the programme because its cost of RM700 million per year was excessive, and its directly negotiated contracts benefited the Umno leadership.
“The cost of funding a National Service trainee for three months could have been used to pay the cost of scholarships at public universities,” Syed Saddiq said on Twitter last night.
Yesterday, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told Parliament that the government plans to revive the programme that was terminated by the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018.
“The National Service was abolished in 2018, but based on the positive impact it had in the development of patriotism in youths who participated in this programme, the ministry will recommend to the cabinet to implement this project again.
“We will prepare a cabinet memorandum paper (on this issue) to be submitted to the cabinet,” Ismail Sabri said.
The programme was terminated amid heavy criticism following the deaths of several trainees. - Mkini
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