I refer to the letter NS deaths: don't push blame to parents .
I empathise with not only with the writer but with all other parents in Malaysia who are being forced by a draconian state legislation to send their children to these ‘camps’. My sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the parents for all the precious lives lost due to - you can say anything you want - nothing short of absolute inefficiency on the part of the administrators/ managers of the programme.
Remember that the primary objective (at least at the inception stage) was and still is enhancing racial unity and national integration (of course, there are the other sub-objectives of discipline, love for country, good habits, bad habits..yadda, yadda etc ). The question is do we have to adopt a Gestapo-like implementation style to force parents to conform and continue to run these camps like military training camps? Just like respect, you cannot forcibly create loyalty or unity. When juxtaposed with the objective, placing this programme under the auspices of the ministry of defense is a dichotomy in itself, compounded further by engaging ex-military retired personnel to run these camps.
It is understandable then if the responses from a these trainers to health complaints from NS trainees will be either ‘ Tahan lah sikit ’, ‘ Jangan macam pondan ’ or ‘ Kena kuat-kuat ya ’. What can we expect from trainers coming after 20 over years of indoctrination in the armed forces with a ‘no questions asked’ mindset?
This negative approach - formulated by outdated managerial fascist thinking to achieve social regimentation and discipline - must stop immediately. In this modern era, and with the objective of integration and national unity, the National Service Programme or what ever government programme that impinges on the personal liberty of making a choices has no place.
Parents need to be motivated– not forced - so much so that they will climb over each other to send their children to these Camps. Don't give your regular response - tak boleh-lah . Be positive. It is always possible. Think of the ways. Ask the parents and the stakeholders themselves, they are the best source of information on how this programme could be conducted.
From my humble perspective, the whole atmosphere must change from the military style-concept to a Western-style summer-camp concept (something like the way the the Rukun Tetanga concept was changed from Keselamatan to Kejiranan in the mid-1980s. RT is still alive today and most important is that it is done voluntarily and is contributing to community relations).
It has to be about playing, making friends and learning other life skills that will contribute to the creation of a truly Malaysian identity. As in the spirit of summer camps parents must be granted total accessibility (if they want to take leave and visit their children even everyday, allocate a time for them to meet their children -something visitation hours. This will remove the anxiety of parents over their child's status.)
This will also enable parents to take their children to the nearest doctor in town f they feel that their child is really not well - not leave it in the hands of the medical assistants in these military mamps. The military has to be detached from this programme ass soon as possible.
The NS programme could be managed by a separate organisation under the ministry of youth, sports and culture. This organisation should reflect a truly Malaysian workforce to ensure that the children feel totally at ease culturally and socially.
In this way, this programme may not need to be discontinued. I am sure all of us parents agree that its intentions at the core are good and if it is implemented in a democratic way based on acceptability, it will have positive implications for the country. It will be place where our teenagers-get to unlearn and re-learn about the other Malaysians other than themselves.
