DAP today called on the government to reveal more information on the soon-to-be implemented national service programme for Malaysian youths.

In a press statement, party chairperson Lim Kit Siang said this should be done immediately to confirm or deny a Singapore Straits Times report last Friday which claimed a scaled-down programme will be launched next year.

The DAP leader also expressed disappointment that Malaysians had to learn the latest from a foreign newspaper, adding that "it is scandalous that there is still not a word on that matter in any local media".

The Straits Times reported that the cabinet had approved plans last Wednesday to start the programme next year, though with a reduced number to cut down costs.

The daily added that only 100,000 young men will be involved in the programme, a drop from the initially-planned 450,000 young Malaysians of both sexes.

It also reported that the prohibitive cost was the sole reason for the decision to scale down the scheme and that legislation governing national service will be tabled at the next parliament sitting later this month.

Instilling patriotism

"There is no reason why details of the national service plan should be made known only when parliament reconvenes on June 16, as it is not only MPs but ordinary citizens who are entitled to have their say on the national service proposals," said Lim.

He added that there are many aspects of the national service proposal which have to discussed in depth before a National Service Training Bill is presented to parliament .

"For this reason, the 2004 implementation date for national service programme should be scrapped and the National Service Training Bill to Parliament in mid-June postponed.

"Instead, the four cabinet sub-committee reports on the national service proposal - the curriculum, logistics, finance and the law - should be made public to allow for a minimum of six-month public debate to decide whether there is national consensus for the proposal to be proceeded to implementation," he said.

Last year, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad proposed introducing national service for school-leavers as a way to instil patriotism and discipline in them and to encourage the mixing of races.

A committee headed by Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak was then formed to work out the finer details of such a service and the initial blueprint indicated a service that would involve about 450,000 youths yearly, at an estimated cost of about RM5 billion.

Feedback was also sought from various groups and individuals if the service should include a military component.

However the spiraling cost of the programme was a major concern and in recent months, the committee had looked into the possibility of reducing the participants and duration as a means of cutting costs.