Mat Sabu Explains Why He Wants To Review The National Service Programme
The programme's budget and efficacy will be reevaluated.
By Jia Vern Tham — 28 Jun 2018, 04:46 PM
Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu, popularly known as Mat Sabu, announced earlier today, 28 June, that the National Service (NS) programme will be reviewed to reduce its budget and reevaluate its effectiveness
Free Malaysia Today reported Mat Sabu as saying that the programme was "not a complete failure".
According to Malay Mail, he claimed that NS could still be valuable with "the correct level of funding and suitable modules".
"We will look at it seriously, especially the curriculum, as we want it to emphasise on the young generation and instil unity," he was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today.
Mat Sabu said it was his personal view that the programme should continue
According to him, the Malaysian youth expressed their patriotism by voting in the 14th General Election because they want a better future for the country.
"It's very important because we want to keep the young generation involved nationally (so) they love this country," Mat Sabu was quoted as saying by Channel NewsAsia.
"They have to have very high civic behaviour so maybe through national service we can introduce that," the Defence Minister added, before indicating that the ministry might refer to Japan for their methods of instilling discipline and patriotism in citizens.
Nonetheless, Mat Sabu stressed that the "indoctrination" will not be about military capabilities but rather on educating attendees about democracy, among other things.
"If the system is not good, they must have the ability to change through democratic means... they're the young and we must train them on this," he said.
Mat Sabu also expressed hope for citizens of all races to join the programme
According to Free Malaysia Today, he noted that the majority of NS programme attendees were Malays.
"We want the Chinese, Indians, and natives from Sabah and Sarawak to join in the programme," the Defence Minister added.
The NS programme was a brainchild of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad during his first tenure as the Prime Minister
Launched in 2003, the three-month military service programme drafts 18-year-old Malaysians to foster patriotism and unity among the multiracial communities of the country.
It was halted in 2015 by former premier Datuk Seri Najib Razak to cut RM400 million from federal spending in the midst of declining oil prices globally.
Last year, Malay Mail reported that the programme was revamped and no longer compulsory for 18-year-olds.