MPs: Make national service compulsory for women, too
Do not leave the women out of the proposed national service the call was loud and clear from both Barisan Nasional and opposition leaders in Parliament today.
They were rallying to the suggestion that women be included in the service after Dr Maximus Johnity Ongkili (BN-Bandau) raised the issue in a supplementary question in the Dewan Rakyat today.
In response, Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak (
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) had said the government would consider including women in the service. He announced yesterday that the national service will be made compulsory to inculcate the spirit of patriotism and character-building in young Malaysians.
The proposal also aims to enhance racial integration and the unity in the country.
"We haven't made any final decision, we're still open and listening to opinion from people," Najib said.
The members of Parliament who met reporters later at the lobby were unanimous in their view that the service should also be made compulsory for women to show that the government does not discriminate on a gender basis.
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