JELI: Health issues and job commitments are some of the reasons behind the absence of 206 participants from the National Service Training Programme 3.0 in May, says the Defence Ministry (Mindef).
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said the ministry will conduct a comprehensive assessment and investigate to resolve the issues, particularly those related to health and the trainees’ work commitments.
“We want to understand the reasons behind their failure to register because, based on the approach we use, we not only inform them but also maintain direct communication with the individuals involved,” he told reporters after the Jeli district Madani Village Veterans programme at SK Sungai Rual.
Adly said the ministry is currently obtaining reports from the programme committee, including reviewing presentations by the National Service Training Department and examining the reasons for the participants’ absence that have been submitted.
He said participants are bound by the National Service Training Act 2003, and that the ministry would conduct a thorough review of the justifications for their failure to register before any enforcement of the law is considered, Bernama reported.
“If there is no other option, only then will we invoke the Act to enforce disciplinary measures,” he said.
