Public inquiry into high fatalities rate of NS trainees/trainers

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A full public investigation into the high fatalities in the National Service programme � nine trainees and nine trainers in the past three years � urgently warranted to allay concerns of parents and the public about safety of programme

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Media Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang
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(Parliament, Friday) : The death of another national service trainee, Iliameera Azlan, from Seremban, at the Ayer Keroh camp on Wednesday morning has raised alarm among parents and the public about the high fatalities in the National Service Training Programme.

Parliament was informed by the Deputy Defence Minister, Datuk Zainal Abidin Zin in December last year that in the past three years, there had been 17 cases of National Service deaths - eight trainees and nine trainers. The total casualty will now be 18.

Why is there such a high rate of fatalities in the National Service Training Programme?

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister, Datujk Seri Najib Razak who is directly in charge of the national service programme should commission a full public investigation into the high rate of fatalities in the National Service programme to allay concerns of parents and the public about the safety of both the trainees and trainers in the programme.

(19/1/2007)

* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman