National Service 3.0 may not involve school students - Khaled

 

The government will consider exempting those in school from the reintroduced National Service Training Programme, Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said.

He said this matter, however, was still under consideration.

“National Service may not involve those who are in school… perhaps after (completing) school. We are considering all of this and we take note of concerns for the adjustments to be made,” he told a media conference at the Parliament building.

The government had before this announced plans to reintroduce the programme, which was abolished in 2018, through two phases.

Phase 1 will involve Form Four students through the Education Ministry curriculum that will include co-curricular activities such as police cadets, firefighters, and scouts while Form Five students, exempted from Phase 1 to allow them to prepare for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination, would join Phase 2 at the territorial army training camps.

Elaborating, Khaled said the programme, based on 80 percent military training and 20 percent on nationhood theoretical courses, could be implemented next year.

“The coursework for nationhood will be discussed with the Higher Education Ministry as it involves unity elements and so on, and that will be given due attention. As for the military aspect, it will be handled by the Defence Ministry,” he said.

LCS completion at 67.57pct

Earlier, when winding up the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Royal Address for his ministry, said the current progress status for the littoral combat ship (LCS) project as of January was 67.57 percent.

“Nearing the end of 2024, the progress percentages for the construction of LCS2 and LCS3 are expected to be at 78.17 per cent and 61.48 per cent, respectively.

“Meanwhile, the work progress for LCS4 and LCS5 is scheduled to be at 53.4 percent and 44.11 percent, contributed by equipment and block module elements that have been built,” he said.

Members of the Public Accounts Committee visiting the LCS construction site in June 2023

Separately, he said the Malaysian Armed ForcesCouncil is subjected to circular directives or any public service policies issued by central agencies such as the Public Service Department and the Treasury from time to time.

He said this was because under Article 132 (1) of the Federal Constitution, the armed forces are part of public service, while Article 132 (2) (a) states that members of public service hold office at the pleasure of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

“All public services are subject to laws and various directives issued by the government (as per) Article 133 of the Federal Constitution,” he said.

He was responding to concerns raised by Khlir Mohd Nor (PN-Ketereh) that the Malaysian Armed Forces Council does not need to heed directives and circulars from the Public Service Department regarding the issue of military veterans’ pensions adjustments.

- Bernama