Several youth organisations have welcomed the government's proposal to start compulsory national service for teenagers, which is scheduled to start in 2004.

Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) secretary-general Norizan Sharif said the service was a good idea and must concentrate on building race relations.

"Racial unity is very important and should be the focus of national service. Although it is not really a problem, we should not be too complacent and take things for granted," he said when contacted.

Norizan added the proposed national service must not "operate in isolation" and should include NGOs and uniformed groups as well.

MYC suggested the inclusion of NGOs and uniformed groups to Defence Minister and chairperson of the cabinet committee on national service Najib Tun Razak at a meeting on Thursday.

"The minister indicated that he would like to see MYC have some sort of role in the implementation of the project, although this is not a final decision.

"I think Datuk Najib still hasn't made up his mind and is quite willing to consider other ideas," said Norizan.

MYC is the umbrella body for youth organisations in the country and has two million members. It is affiliated to 36 organisations.

Spiritual awareness

Malaysian Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) also supported the national service programme.

However, its vice-president Abdul Halim Ismail said that Malaysia should not blindly follow the models practised in other countries.

Besides the main component of military training, he said the programme should also include components for community service and spiritual and religious awareness.

"Although there are differences in the religions practiced by Malaysians, there are common elements that could be included in the programme," he told malaysiakini .

He also said that the implementation should not be rushed as other quarters, including political parties, should be consulted first.

"National service is not going to be a channel for (political) indoctrination, but the views of other political parties should also be included," he said.

Also voicing support for the programme were the leaders of uniformed groups.

National Chief Commissioner of the Scouts Association of Malaysia, Hamidin Abdullah, hailed the move as "fantastic".

"This is in line with out policies on youth, that is to involve youth in community service and integrate them with the local community, so if the government is sponsoring this, it is ideal," he said.

He noted that weapons training agreed with the Scouts' motto of 'Be Prepared' and that it was part and parcel of discipline and the learning experience.

However, Hamidin Abdullah was rather critical of a previously launched government-led youth initiative Rakan Muda, under the purview of the Ministry of Youth and Sport.

Rakan Muda was introduced to combat the lepak (loafing) culture among youth. It organises recreational and educational activities for youths.

"I go along with national service more than Rakan Muda because Rakan Muda is an organisation without conditions in the membership and at least with national service, you know for sure that there are qualified trainers," he said.

St. John's Ambulance Commander-in-Chief Low Bin Tick also disputed the effectiveness of the Rakan Muda programme while lauding the national service proposal.

"National service is very good for young people and the nation as a whole.

"But national service and Rakan Muda are two different things, and I'm more critical of Rakan Muda because instead of setting that up, funds could have been channeled to existing organisations," he said.

Low said that national service differed from Rakan Muda because national service would be a compulsory programme that all young people would be involved with.

Good timing

Girl Guides Association of Malaysia chief commissioner Fatimah Mohd said the programme was being introduced at the right time.

She said that women could play a very important part in ensuring Malaysia's integrity in terms of providing support for the men.

"Providing support doesn't necessarily mean holding guns, but in terms of providing community services or medical aid, whatever we can do to help the country," she said.

Asked if she would object if women had to undergo the same training as men during national service, she pointed out that "if all else fails" then women would need some skills to defend the country. She also asserted that women would not "lose their feminity by handling guns".

The cabinet committee on national service proposed on Nov 13 that all Malaysians reaching the age of 18 would be required to undergo six months of national service probably beginning in early 2004.

The 400,000 youths who are expected to be enlisted in national service at any one time would be taught to march, raise the Jalur Gemilang and basic shooting with the aim of instilling discipline, patriotism and other positive values.

Four Cabinet sub-committees have been set up to look into the implications of the proposal and they will report their findings to the committee in January.