A national service (NS) trainee received seven stitches to his forehead after he was allegedly assaulted by 12 others, including two trainers, at the Jengka Univeristi Teknologi Mara (UiTM) hostel in Pahang, said the police today.

The 18-year-old victim, whose identity was not disclosed, also sustained injuries to his face and abdomen in last Friday's incident.

According to a Bernama report, Pahang CID investigating officer Sampornak Ismail said the youth was attacked when he allegedly wanted to pass a stolen handphone cover and RM50 as compensation to another trainee.

He added the victim was then summoned by two trainers for questioning over the theft of the handphone cover.

However, the victim claimed that he was punched in the abdomen by the two, who are in their 30s.

Sampornak said the victim was later sent to the Bandar Pusat Jengka Hospital for treatment and filed a police report on the incident with the Jengka police station the following day.

Five of the 10 trainees were sent by the NS secretariat to the police station where their statements were recorded before they were released on police bail.

Sampornak said the case was being investigated under Section 323 for voluntarily causing hurt.

Problem-ridden

programme

The NS programme - which involves 85,000 youths housed in 41 camps nationwide - has been plagued with allegations of fights, drugs and sexual impropriety.

The latest incident, which received prominent media coverage, was the alleged rape of a trainee in a camp in Terengganu. The police have detained a 29-year-old trainer in connection with the case.

Following this, national service council chairperson Prof Dr Ahmad Fawzi Mohamed Basri disclosed that time constraints had prevented proper screening of trainers, who comprise servicemen and ex-servicemen.

The programme - conceived by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - kicked off on Feb 16. Critics, namely opposition party DAP, have called for it to be suspended in view of the problems.