KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed National Service Training Programme (NS) 3.0 will not involve school-going children, says Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister's assurance came after considering the parents' worries that school-going teens would have to undergo harsh military-like training when the programme was eventually rolled out.
"It may not involve those who are in school, but maybe those are school leavers.
"We are weighing all matters and have also taken note of such worries and will tailor the programme according to age," he said at a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday (March 12).
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He was asked to comment on some parents' worries that their children would have to undergo harsh military training as part of the NS 3.0 programme.
Based on recent reports, concerns raised by parents and stakeholders include cases of bullying, sexual harassment and racially motivated fights.
In 2009, a female trainee at the Chini training camp was allegedly molested by more than 20 male trainees at night, and four days later, a fight believed to be racially motivated took place at the camp’s canteen between two groups of students.
In 2004, a trainee was raped at the Merang camp in Setiu, Terengganu.
In 2013, it was reported that a total of 23 deaths were recorded at camps nationwide since the NS training programme started in December 2003.
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The previous Defence minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said participants would have to undergo 45 days of training at 13 reserve camps nationwide for the NS 3.0 programme.
Under the initial proposal, the first phase of the programme would involve Form Four students and would be geared towards uniformed co-curricular activities, such as those related to the police, firefighters and scouts.
In the second phase, participants will undergo 45 days of training, 90% of which would involve basic military training, while the remainder would focus on nation-building.
Meanwhile, Khaled said that nothing had yet been finalised on the finer workings of the programme.
He noted that the programme would be divided into two components, namely, nationalism and military.
"The curriculum on nationalism will be discussed with the National Unity Ministry.
"This is because it will involve elements of unity and community-based matters, which is our focus.
"The military aspect of the programme will be done by the Defence Ministry," he said.
He added tha the National Service Training Programme 3.0 would perhaps be implemented next year.:
