The national service training programme must be made voluntary for girls following the allegations of sexual crimes, said DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang today.

The parliamentary opposition leader also called on the cabinet to allow parents to withdraw their daughters with immediate effect if they desired to do so.

He also expressed hope that women ministers will raise this issue at the cabinet's weekly meeting tomorrow

"In the past 10 days, public confidence in the programme has suffered almost daily blows, intensifying parental concerns, anxieties and opposition," he said in a statement.

Lim cited the cases of a female trainee accusing a trainer of raping her in his car in Terengganu, the allegation by two male trainees of being molested by a male trainer and the drowning of a trainee in Sarawak.

He said although Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak promptly offered his condolence to the family of the deceased trainee, he was quicker in trying to exonerate the training programme from any responsibility for the incident.

"What Malaysians see is not a culture and ethics of responsibility, but that of evasion of responsibility by 'passing the buck' for the many flaws, defects and weaknesses of the programme," he added.

Ministers in 'hiding'

Lim quoted the deputy premier as saying in a special interview with the New Sunday Times that national service is not "Najib's programme" but that of "the entire government, especially the cabinet committee that decided on the format".

The DAP leader asked if the other ministers on the national service cabinet committee are prepared to step forward to identify themselves and accept full public responsibility together with Najib for the flaws and defects.

"Why have they (the ministers) all gone into hiding?" he said.

Lim urged the cabinet to heed the increasing calls for the immediate suspension of the programme until the problems are rectified.

"It is a matter of grave regret that the cabinet last Wednesday failed in its duty and did not come to grips with the multiplying flaws.

"The least the cabinet should do tomorrow, if it is not prepared to suspend the programme, is to make it voluntary for girls," he said.

The inaugural national service programme which involves 85,000 youths born in 1986 has been fraught with problems from the onset.

Apart from sexual related problems, there have also been accusations of physical assault, theft and drug abuse.

Last week, Najib said the cabinet decided to continue with the programme due to its long-term benefits for the youth.