Sunday February 5, 2012

PM launches National Service Voluntary Brigade

PEKAN: A National Service Voluntary Brigade has been launched to further promote volunteerism and tap the services of hundreds of thousands of former National Service (NS) trainees.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who launched the brigade in Bandar Chini here yesterday, said the brigade could be roped in to help during natural disasters such as floods, landslides and fires.

The Government has no qualms spending RM650mil annually, or RM8,200 per NS trainee, he said. The number of former NS trainees totals 620,000.

“We see it as an investment in our human resource development,’’ Najib added.

Lending a hand: Najib stirring milk in a pot during a Ponggal festival held in Pekan yesterday.

Najib said there was a need for effective intervention by the Government to ensure that character building among youths was done the right way.

“We want our young to be strong-willed and full of zest,” he stressed.

Najib also announced the Government’s plans to set up the 1Malaysia Corps – an ambitious effort to group all youth associations and volunteer entities such as Rela, Civil Defence Department and Rakan Muda.

Later, when attending a Ponggal festival celebration in Pekan, Najib said everyone was free to practise their own religion, culture and lifestyle.

“This is a value that should be integrated into our identity,” he added.

Najib, who is the Pekan MP, celebrated the festival with hundreds of his constituents and presented BR1M cash aid to them.

At the launch of the Pahang Local Authorities ICT Strategic Plan and the state NKEA CCI EPP8 e-Government day at the Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Silver Jubilee Hall here, Najib reminded civil servants to always provide the best service to the people.

He stressed on the importance of a public sector which was responsive and effective, especially those at the forefront of service delivery.

“This is because the people’s perception of the Government is based greatly on their experience of services with frontline agencies, including the local authorities,” he said.

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