Those between the ages of 16 and 35 will be required to undergo a maximum 90-day national service training in order to create a 'patriotic and resilient' nation.

According to the 20-page National Service Training (NST) bill, which was tabled in Parliament for first reading today, the training is compulsory for both Malaysian citizens and those holding permanent resident status.

The minister in charge is also empowered to release the identities of those selected to undergo the training and hold the discretion on how the publication (of the names of the selected individuals) should be done.

Requesting postponement

Individuals with valid and exceptional reasons can request for a postponement of the training as stated under Section 20 of the bill, which was tabled by Deputy Defence Minister Mohamad Shafie Apdal. Members of Parliament were also just given copies of the bill today.

"Any person liable to undergo national service training may apply in the prescribed manner to the proper authority for a certificate of postponement liability to be called up for national service training on the ground that exceptional hardship would ensue if he were called up," stated the bill.

The application for such a certificate must be made to the council within 10 days of the publication (of the names) and any initial refusal is not final and appealable to the council.

The certificate can be renewed on application which must be done within 30 days before the expiration of the document.

Should the "exceptional circumstances" (which was used as the basis to issue the certificate) change, a notice must be made to the council and those who fail to do so will be committing an offence.

Harsh punishments

As expected, the bill states a series of offences such as absent without reason, and absence without leave (AWOL) which are punishable with a maximum RM3,000 fine and/or six months imprisonment.

Similar punishment will also be imposed on those who abet in the above crimes including those who issue any false statement meant to deceive the council.

Meanwhile, those who maim or injure any national service candidate affecting his suitability to attend the training face a higher punishment, a maximum jail term of 10 years.

Anyone who "knowingly makes any false statement" regarding the health condition of any candidate also faces similar punishment.

Those who are found to incite candidates not to undergo training would also be committing an offence which carries the maximum penalty of RM 10,000 fine and/or two years' jail.

The bill also compels every employer to approve any leave application to their workers who have been called up for national service for a period not exceeding 30 days. No deduction from salary, annual leave and other remuneration is allowed.

Those who violate the rule can be jailed up to two months and shall be liable to a fine of "not less than double the pay and other remuneration during the period he was called up for the national service training".

Powerful council

The bill also speaks about the need to form a national service training council which will oversee the training. Its membership will consist of a chairperson, five members representing the government and between three and five members who will represent the major races in the country.

However the bill does not stipulate the form of training which the trainees will have to undergo. It also gives the council full power to determine the "nature, place and duration" of the national service training.

The bill also stipulated that the training program will cause the government extra financial expenditure and that the exact amount cannot be ascertained at present.

Last Friday, Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak, who chairs the special cabinet committee on national service, said the government expects to spend RM500 million on the compulsory three-month national service programme each year for 100,000 trainees, starting from February next year.

The minister also said the first batch of trainees will be selected using a computer programme from an eligible 480,000 young men and women born in 1986. The majority will be sitting the SPM examination this year.

He added that the programme will focus on basic military training, patriotic training and personal development including community service.