YOURSAY ‘If it can be so easily axed, it is an admission NS is unnecessary.’
Despite NS camp closures, staff will get pay
Odin: Malaysia's so-called national service is nothing more than a three-month, all-expenses-paid (paid for by Malaysian taxpayers, of course) holiday and an avenue to further enrich Umno Baru's politicians, members of their families, and their relatives, friends and cronies.
National service is meant to train civilians in warfare, so that should there be any conflict, they can be called up and got into action right away without having to first teach them such things as which parts of a rifle are what and to not mistake hand grenades for tiny pineapples.
The programme should be stopped immediately - and for good.
Anonymous #70881335: Yes, it should be scrapped altogether. Indeed, it’s a totally useless programme, other than providing income for the providers.
The objectives of the national service programme can be achieved in another way at a fraction of the cost.
Pahatian: If an important program like NS can be suspended for a year, it clearly shows that it is not important at all. So why not just scrap it all together?
Why still want to pay the staff wages for doing nothing or monies to maintain the facilities and other amenities related to NS or the camps?
Better still, turn the camps into homes for the homeless or the poor so that they have a decent roof under their heads for once.
If the buildings and other facilities are not properly maintained or inhabited, decay and rot will set in. And then millions of ringgit will be needed to repair and put back them into shape for the next batch of NS trainees if it ever reopen again.
Progressive: For all its shortcomings, based on feedback from parents and participants, this National Service is a positive thing for our youth.
Instead of scrapping it for a year, we should extend it to a year or more and include military training as a component, like Singapore, Korea and Denmark.
Considering our youth, this would be the best investment we can make for them.
Versey: The National Service was implemented without proper study of its necessity. So far, most people, other than those who benefitted from the related contracts, have not seen any real value in this ‘project’.
Taxpayers' money have been wasted, the entire project created much controversial issues, some families’ life were disrupted because of loss of lives.
P Dev Anand Pillai: What is the use of having these programmes when after them, these kids are brainwashed by the propaganda machinery?
Segregation, suspicion and discrimination still exist, despite these efforts. There were no programmes like this 30 years ago but the generation then is more united today.
The Goods and Services Tax (ST) should also be halted and all efforts should be focused on plugging the holes from which money is being siphoned out, in the name of this and that.
Remember, the pinch is being felt by the people, and when the people feel it, it will translate to 'hate' votes.
Doc: My deepest condolences to all the Umnoputras who will be losing government contracts in the running, building, maintaining and supplying material (especially uniforms) for the National Service programme.
Bystander: I hope that the suspension of the national service programme would not rendered contracts signed to be compensated?
Then it will not be of much significant saving but instead the compensation would be more of a lifeline for the cronies.
This is just like the scrapped crooked bridge which ultimately cause the country hundreds of millions ringgit in compensation.
Odysseus: This is really ‘makan gaji buta’. Please let us know how much you need to pay these people to hang around and do nothing?
Bamboo: If National Service can be so easily axed, it is an admission that NS is an unnecessary venture. We know it's the gravy train for some suppliers of goods needed for NS.
Whatever decision the government makes is to benefit some Umnoputras and their cronies, thus bleeding money and contributing to the ballooning national debt.
T C King: We now have many unused National Service camps. I recommend all government courses and seminars be held there. Let them have a taste of their own medicine. No more posh hotels with six meals a day.
Sleepy: I believe the reason for NS is:
1) Servicing the cronies.
2) Poor facilities/curriculum in most schools like fields for sports/outdoor activities and programmes for race/religion interactions.
We cannot achieve these in 11 years of schooling, and yet want to achieve it in three months.
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