The controversial clause in the National Service Bill which makes it an offence to incite others from not participating in the programme was retracted due to complaints from the public, said Defence Minister Najib Razak today.

"The government is concerned about the feedback for this programme. The deletion is an indication that the government listens to their grouses," he said while tabling the second reading of the bill at the Dewan Rakyat.

The bill was passed with a two-third majority later in the day.

Under the clause, a person could be fined a maximum of RM10,000 or face a two-year jail term or both if found guilty of inciting any person liable to undergo national service training.

Opposition party, DAP has also criticised the clause and called for the postponement of the bill due to other contradictions.

Seven batches

At a press conference later, Najib said further amendments could be made as it is still not too late for the public to voice their opinions.

"However, any amendments will only involve the implementation details of the bill but not the principal of it," he added.

The minister said he would meet with religious groups and several Chinese-based associations soon to discuss the bill.

Najib also revealed that the government proposed to have 100,000 trainees for the first year -2004 - who would be taken in seven batches.

He said it would be approximately 16,000 to 17,000 trainees for each intake, which will run for three months.

He added that the staggered intakes would affect the enrollment period for the matriculation programme but not STPM.

Responding to a provision in the bill that stipulates that those between the ages of 16-35 must join the programme, the minister said it was only an 'enabling provision' but the implementation will first focus on youths aged 18 or SPM graduates.

The government scaled down the initial proposed 480,000 eligible young men and women born in 1986 to participate in the programme to100,000, who will be selected via computer.

On another clause which stated that employers were required to approve not more than 30 days leave - despite the training running for triple that period - for workers to undergo the training, the minister said he would look into the matter.

Unforgettable experience

In his speech earlier, Najib told parliamentarians that the national service programme will help keep youths away from "negative elements".

"It is the responsibility of the people to ensure that multi-racial Malaysia continues to be stable and strong to achieve development in view of various new attacks such as globalisation and liberalisation. Therefore, we cannot let the polarisation and alienated relation among races to continue.

"We need to instill patriotism among youngsters so that they would not become 'fragile' ( rapuh )

and be instigated to disrupt the peace and calm in the country," he said.

The minister also told parents not to worry and asked them to urge their children to join the programme.

"I can give the assurance that when the youths complete their training, they will turn into more positive people.

"No matter what, the training would be a sweet memory and experience which you would not forget for the rest of your life," he said.

Commotion in the House

Meanwhile the House was adjourned for about 10 minutes this morning following a clash between Fong Po Kuan (DAP- Batu Gajah) and deputy speaker Lim Si Cheng.

Trouble started immediately after Najib had tabled the bill. Fong wanted to put forward her motion to postpone the debate on the bill.

She wanted the session to be postponed between six and 12 months to allow the bill to be referred to a selection committee for further perusal.

However the deputy speaker rejected Fong's proposal to table the motion before the debate, adding that it should be tabled after the conclusion of the debate.

This was disputed by Fong and other DAP MPs.

Lim had then adjourned proceedings and was replaced by Speaker Dr Mohamed Zahir Ismail, who explained to Fong that she will be given an opportunity at a later stage to table her motion.

Her motion was rejected later in the evening.