Why didn’t camp release NS trainee?
BY ZULKIFLI ABD RAHMAN AND JONATHAN CHEWKUANTAN: When SPM school-leaver Nooraini Abu Bakar was called up for national service training in March, she didn't hesitate to fulfil her national duty.
But just a month later, she was hit by a mysterious skin disease that caused rashes on her forehead, face and hands.
She was first examined by camp doctors and later by a specialist, who gave her a five-week leave of absence from training.
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SPM school leaver Nooraini Abu Bakar, who is suffering from a mysterious skin disease on her face, holding up a photograph of herself before she took part in national service training in March. She claimed that she came down with the condition a month after joining the NS camp in Cherating, Kuantan. Her father has expressed disappointment that his daughter was not allowed to leave camp to recuperate. Nooraini completed her training on May 28. See Page 2. — Starpic by NIK NAIZI HUSIN |
On returning home, Nooraini’s condition worsened despite several trips to the Tengku Ampuan Afzan Hospital (HTAA) - some of her hair dropped and the skin on her face appeared sunburnt.
Nooraini, from the Sg Panching Utara Felda settlement village, said: “I can’t remember how I got the ailment. First, I felt some pain in my knee. Several days later, I had acne-like marks on my face and hands.
“When my condition did not improve, I asked for permission to go home but the camp authorities declined to release me,” she said yesterday.
“I was at first told by the camp commandant that I could go home on May 20. But nothing came of it. I was also told that I needed to get a letter from the NS training headquarters if I wanted to take leave.”
Doctors at the hospital told her she had suffered excessive sunburn.
Her father Abu Bakar Putih, 62, expressed disappointment that the camp had refused to allow his daughter to return home to rest.
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SCARRED: Nooraini’s mother Maria Abdul applying some cream to her daughter’s face at their home in Felda Panching Utara in Kuantan yesterday. |
NS Training Department director-general Kamaruddin Mohamed Baria said the camp commandant had sent the trainee to hospitals and clinics five times between March 14 and May 28.
Subsequently, the camp commandant recommended that Nooraini contact the department to have her case considered, adding, however, the department did not receive any communication from her.
“After the doctors advised her to stay away from the sun, the trainee did not take part in outdoor physical activities,” he said when contacted.
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