Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been urged to defer the plan to extend firearms training to all National Service (NS) cadets until the select committee on unity and national service can table its interim report in Parliament.

In making this call, Batu Gajah member of Pariament Fong Po Kuan said in a statement today that the report is likely to be presented by the end of the year.

This will also contain feedback from those who have attended the public hearings held by the committee, she said.

The select committee, headed by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Maximus Ongkili, has been tasked to study issues pertaining to national unity and its impact on development policies.

It is to recommend improvements on achieving national unity, as well as to study the relevant legislation - including the NS Training Act 2003 - towards this goal.

Fong said it is necessary for public views to be considered in relation to firearms handling by young Malaysians, "to avoid a crisis of confidence (in the government) and anxiety among parents for the safety of their children".

NS trainees in six camps are currently being taught how to handle and fire M16 rifles as part of the physical training module, each using 30 rounds of ammunition.

Second session

About 29,000 trainees are currently in 76 camps nationwide, undergoing the second session of training from July 10 to Sept 30.

"Ever since the NS was implemented, elements of military training have (increasingly) been introduced, including the hiring of ex-military personnel to lead training or enforce discipline. Now, there is training in the use of M16 rifles as well," she said.

Fong questioned the objectives of such training, as well as asked about safety measures and the cost involved.