The government's insistence on pushing the National Service Training Bill 2003 through Parliament has come under attack by opposition and civil society groups. It was tabled for first reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

In separate press statements, DAP Youth and Penang-based social reform group Aliran also questioned Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak's ( photo ) decision to unveil selected details of the scheme only last Friday.

They said this does not give the public sufficient time to debate the implications of the proposed legislation, including a provision to punish those who instigates opposition to it.