KLANG: Parents are having mixed feelings about the revival of national service training.
While some say the National Service Training Programme 3.0 (NS) will be a good platform to inculcate discipline and boost national unity, others are unsure if it is really necessary.
Fariza Daud, who has three sons aged 12, 13 and 15, said she is okay with her sons attending NS as long as it is not too extreme.
“They are not being trained to be soldiers, so I do not see the need for intense physical training. I am against all forms of ragging and extreme physical endurance training,” added Fariza.
She said those running the programme must remember that they were dealing with youths, and thus should not break their spirit in the name of training.
Christopher Thomas, who has three children aged nine, 16 and 19, hopes the new module will be better than the previous one.
“I hope they have carried out a proper study and formulated something more constructive.
“Another factor to be taken into account is the effectiveness of the programme in instilling patriotism and discipline in the trainees,” added Christopher.
His sister Elena Thomas, who has two sons aged 15 and 18, will not send her children if there is such an option.
“I am not happy with the way it was run before. And people whose children underwent NS training in the past had many complaints,” she said.
The relevant ministries and agencies must first show how the programme will benefit youths before restarting it, she added.
Influencer Ilzujuhan Hamzah, who is de facto guardian to 13-year-old C. Sugumaran, welcomes the new NS stint as a good move for personal development, adding: “It would be good to equip youths with the ability to defend themselves and the country.”
