85,000 picked to undergo NS

BY LAM LI
KUALA LUMPUR: A new batch of 85,000 youths born in 1987 have been selected for next year’s national service (NS) programme.

The list of those randomly selected through computerised balloting can be accessed at several government agencies’ websites and through the NS Training Department hotlines and short messaging service.

Those who wish to check can do so from Saturday. (See chart).

The names and identity card numbers of those selected will also be published in major dailies in the middle of next month. 

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Defence Minister and chairman of the Cabinet Committee on NS, said those enlisted should feel fortunate to be picked from a pool of 471,376 individuals.

“The Government is convinced that the programme has a positive impact on nation building and should continue.

“No other programme can draw such a mass involvement of youths to bring about significant changes to the country,” he said when launching the computer balloting yesterday.

At a press conference later, Najib said the Government had learnt from glitches and unexpected problems during the inaugural programme and promised the training would be of better quality next year.

“We will be better prepared in terms of administration, implementation, selection of trainers, camp facilities and the overall quality of training modules,” he said, adding that trainees would undergo the three-month training at 71 camps nationwide in stages.

 
The first intake of 28,330 trainees will undergo training from Dec 13 until March 6. 

The second batch of 28,334 trainees will go through the programme from March 14 to June 3 while the last batch of 28,334 will train from July 10 to Sept 30.

Of the 85,000 youths, 60% will be bumiputras, 28% Chinese, 10% Indians and the remaining two per cent will be from other races. 

Male trainees will make up 51% of those selected.

Najib said failure to report for training was an offence under the law.

NS shirkers will face a maximum jail term of half a year or a maximum fine of RM3,000 or both and they can be charged repeatedly until they undergo the training.

Asked what action had been taken against about 4,000 shirkers of the inaugural training, Najib said the case was now in the hands of the police.

“The shirkers will definitely face the music. We will not extend another last chance offer to them,” he said. 
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I wouldn't mind though, as I might be getting a one year before university.  But, still! What a big thing!!!.. Will blog later about the depressing chem paper in all-out drama.