DAP parliamentarians today submitted a petition to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to withhold the royal assent for the National Service Training Bill 2003 passed in the Dewan Rakyat last month.

The MPs said the controversial bill was passed "too hastily" on June 25 when many issues remained uncertain.

"The bill went through the second reading, debated and passed the very same day despite the unanswered queries or less than satisfactory replies.

"We are beseeching the Agong not to grant the royal assent, which would then create an extraordinary situation," said Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan told reporters outside Istana Negara this morning. Also present was Seputeh MP Teresa Kok.

The petition by the 10 MPs - Batu Gajah, Kota Melaka, Bukit Mertajam, Tanjong, Bukit Bintang, Seputeh, Kepong, Cheras, Bagan and Nibong Tebal - was received by the private secretary to the King, Raja Hydar Raja Iskandar.

Public consultation

Fong hopes the government would take this opportunity to revise the national service bill by including public views before proceeding to implement the RM500 million ringgit-a-year programme.

"We urge parliament to hold a more comprehensive public consultation and discussion in line with established democratic processes.

"It is not right for a parliamentary democracy like Malaysia to pass a law before the overall details have been finalised," she said.

Furthermore, she added, public opinion should be sought even before a bill is tabled and not the reverse.

Nevertheless, a bill automatically becomes law after 90 days without a royal assent.

Fong - who led the DAP delegation - said crucial information on insurance coverage, allowances, programme details, selection methods and payment scheme were missing from the proposed law as they were still being finalised.

"When asked for an explanation on the uncertainties, the minister (Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak) kept saying that the matter was currently being looked into."

She said the existing ambiguity in the bill extended to the selection of trainees where nothing is stated about the process and the need to exclude 80 percent of those of eligible age.

"The fact that only 100,000 persons would be chosen randomly through computer selection goes to show how ill-prepared the government, and the bill, really are.

"The government's excuse for being unable to handle all 480,000 eligible persons is due to problems of funding, infrastructure and trainers."

Fong said it should instead be opened to those interested to join the national service programme.

Training periods

She also questioned the two different training periods prescribed in the bill - 90 days for youths and 30 days for workers.

"Workers should take note of this provision. We are also not sure if the training period would be conducted continuously or in stages," she added.

The proposal has led to a string of criticisms from non-governmental organisations and opposition parties claiming that the government is muddled up over the real reasons for introducing the scheme.

Detractors also claimed that the government's proposal is full of holes and blatant contradictions.

Just before the bill was passed, a controversial clause making it an offence to incite others against joining national service, carrying a maximum RM10,000 fine or a two-year jail term, was deleted following a public outcry.