http://dapmalaysia.org  

First step to restore public confidence in national service programme is to end the cult of secrecy and allow elected representatives free and full access to the 45 training camps to allay parental concerns about the welfare and safety of their children Media Statement (2) by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya,  Thursday): The media has carried  reports of mass hysteria at the national service training camp in  Pasir Panjang, Negri Sembilan which houses 508 trainees, with nine warded at the Seremban Hospital after being sent to the Port Dickson district hospital.  Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should give a full report about the problem  of mass hysteria among the 85,000 national service trainees throughout the country, as I have received reports indicating that this is not the first time nor the first camp where mass hysteria had surfaced.  I have for instance received a report and a five-point recommendation from a public-spirited Malaysian after survey of the  breakdown of discipline at  the Paya Besar Kuala Berang national service training camp in Hulu Terenganu, following a fight between two groups of trainees, viz::  Adalah dicadang ditubuhkan satu pasukan tindakan khas (Special Task Force) yang dianggotai oleh golongan-golongan professional termasuk  Wakil Rakyat yang bertugas dan meneliti masalah-masalah Pelatih Khidmat Negara di seluruh Malaysia memandangkan banyak masalah  yang dirujuk kepada komander atau penyelia tidak mendapat perhatian yang serius dan seolah-olah sengaja disembunyikan untuk menjaga imej  pengurusan dan pentadbiran kem berkaitan. Lawatan pasukan tindakan  khas ini perlu dilakukan setiap minggu bagi mengenalpasti masalah dan  menghilangkan kerisauan pihak ibu bapa yang kekurangan maklumat  berhubung anak-anak mereka. Adalah dicadangkan agar kemudahan yang disediakan kepada Pelatih Khidmat Negara dipertingkatkan memandangkan kemudahan yang sedia ada sekarang masih berada di tahap yang kurang memuaskan. Adalah dicadangkan agar pemeriksaan kebersihan dilakukan dengan lebih kerap kerana kebersihan di sekitar penempatan masih berada di tahap rendah. Adalah dicadangkan agar pelatih yang tidak mampu untuk menghabiskan tempoh latihan seperti masalah kesihatan (hysteria) dibenarkan pulang memandangkan peraturan sekarang (menurut komander kem berkaitan) menyatakan pelatih yang tidak mampu meneruskan latihan dikehendaki tinggal didalam kem berkaitan sehingga tempoh tamat dan tidak dibenarkan pulang. Adalah diharapkan komander dan penyelia kem berlaku adil kepada semua pelatih tanpa mengira kaum dan bangsa.. The first step to restore public confidence in national service programme is to end the cult of secrecy and  to allow elected representatives free and full access to the 45 training camps to allay parental concerns about the welfare and safety of their children.  If Najib has no confidence in the newly-elected Members of Parliament and State Assembly members to help to pinpoint and rectify the flaws and defects of the national service training programme, why should the parents have confidence in the authorities by placing their children’s welfare, health and even lives in the hands of the government in the  national service training programme? (8/4/2004) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman & Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timor