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 ( photo ) 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.

Shared responsibility

DAP Wanita chief Chong Eng said women should also share the responsibility in defending the country.

"Ladies should be given the opportunity for the training of physical skills," she said.

Chong, who is also the MP for Bukit Mertajam, said DAP fully supports the inclusion of women in the national service.

Keadilan supreme council member and MP for Kemaman, Abdul Rahman Yusof said he agreed women should be included in the national service but cautioned against possible social problems.

"The national service would involve many training sessions and may create social problems since they are all young men and women," he said without explaining what he meant.

He suggested separate training sessions if women were compelled to join the national service.

Equal opportunity

People's Progressive Party president M Kayveas conceded that women should also be given equal opportunity in the national service. His view was echoed by MCA Youth secretary-general and MP for Bentong Liow Tiong Lai.

A special cabinet committee headed by Najib and comprising of five ministers and two deputy ministers from the defence, home, education, and housing and local government ministries as well as the Prime Minister's Department, has been set up to study the implementation of the policy.

Najib said the committee would meet with student bodies, political parties and non-governmental organisations to listen to their views before proposing a suitable model of implementation to the government.

He said the government is also considering a plan to allow those who want to join the armed forces after undergoing national service.