Mat Sabu: NS programme 'not a failure' but needs reviewing

KUALA LUMPUR: The National Service (NS) programme, initiated during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's first tenure as prime minister, will be reviewed, says Mohamad Sabu.

News portal Free Malaysia Today reported the Defence Minister as saying that the programme "was not a complete failure" and would be reviewed to bring down costs and re-evaluate its efficacy.

"We will look at the curriculum as we want to focus on the young generation and instil unity," he said at a press conference at his ministry here on Thursday (June 28).

Mohamad Sabu also said he personally thought that the NS programme should continue as the country's youth had displayed their patriotism during the May 9 election.

"The young, who were working overseas, came back to vote. They want the future of the country to be better," he said.

However, Mohamad Sabu noted that NS programme participants were predominantly Malays and expressed a desire for greater participation of other races, including youth from Sabah and Sarawak.