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.

Undemocratic clause

DAP Youth said the government must remove the clause in the bill which criminalises criticism of the proposed programme.

Its secretary Loke Siew Fook said Section 29(b) of the bill clearly states that anyone who instigates others to oppose the national service programme is deemed to have committed an offence.

The proposed penalty is a maximum fine of RM10,000 or jail term of up to two years, or both.

"We strongly oppose this clause as it is most undemocratic and unfair to punish those who do not agree with the implementation of the national service programme," he said.

Loke said the legislation has been made deliberately harsh to discourage people from debating the rationale of the programme. The clause also carries too wide an interpretation as it is uncertain as to what would qualify as "instigating" others.

"Is it through public statements, speeches, memorandums or demonstrations? This is not just undemocratic, but another step to clamp down on free expression in the country," he said.

Parents not spared

Loke said the tough punishment spelled out for those who refuse to attend national service represents another attempt to clamp down on opposition to the programme.

"Under Sections 18(1), 19(1) and 19(2), those selected but do not attend - and those who try to stop those selected from attending - are liable to a (maximum)

fine of RM3,000 fine or six-month jail term or both," he said.

"This means that not only the youth who do not want to attend will be punished, but also parents who are against sending their children for the programme."

Under the bill, all individuals born after 1986 are eligible to be picked for a three-month national service stint .

The programme proposes to focus on basic military skills, patriotism and personal development.

Trainees will be taught the use of basic firearms; learn about issues like national sovereignty and honour; and do community work with public agencies, community centres and non-government organisations.

'Indecent haste'

Aliran said the government should have consulted the public and allowed for public discussion before bringing the bill to Parliament.

"Aliran is deeply disturbed by the government's indecent haste in pushing through the bill without giving parliamentarians and the public sufficient time to debate the proposal," it said.

"Findings of the four cabinet sub-committees on curriculum, finance, logistics and law have not been disclosed for public discussion."

The group said the government's change of emphasis from one of reinforcing national defence to promoting national integration requires thorough rethinking of the exercise.

"If the government's professed concern is to arrest the apparent increase in ethnic segregation among the youth, then it begs the question whether 'national service' which, among other things, includes military training, would really serve that purpose," it said.

"Ethnic polarisation has underlying causes and cannot be corrected through a three-month stint by bringing youths of various ethnic backgrounds physically together."

Aliran also questioned the contradiction posed to the concept by Malaysia's political system, which is dominated by mono-ethnic parties.

"Ethnic politics of mono-ethnic political parties only worsen the situation as it does not tackle the larger picture concerning national unity and harmony," it noted.

"It but only champions the interests of one ethnic group over others. In such as situation, primitive sentiments override patrotism and national unity.".

In addition, the organisation said the government should also clarify what it means by 'patriotism' and 'national unity', since it appears not to have been able to distinguish between love for the country and loyalty to the Barisan Nasional government.