NS

Letter to Editor

The National Service Training Council, acting as an advisory body to the Minister of Defence, cannot be unconcerned over yet another health-related death of a National Service Trainee TOO HUI MIN from the Geo Cosmo National Service Training Camp in Selangor.

Every time an NS trainee dies while undergoing training, I am devastated.

I put myself in the position of the parents concerned and fully understand their sense of loss, anquish and suffering.

Since I accepted the appointment of Chairman of the National Service Training Council for a three-year term in June 2005, I have served with commitment and do my utmost best simply because it is a responsibility and a trust.

I spend almost 90% of my time doing National Service duties.

I go to the office almost daily to assist the National Service Training Programme by providing feedback, complaints, suggestions and mete out advice to the National Service Training Department.

I also spend a considerable amount of time listening to and attending to parents and needs of trainees who approach me from time to time.

In the course of the two years I have visited some 60 National Service Camps giving motivational talks to the trainees while at the same time reminding the Camp Commandants and their Staff to ensure the proper management of the camps.

Every time I talk to the Commandants, their Deputies, trainers and staff I never fail to remind them of the challenging responsibilities entrusted upon them and why it is important they must live up to public expectations.

I constantly emphasize to them the need to be caring to all trainees and treat them as if they (the trainees) are their own children.

I had also called on all Camp Commandants to take all necessary steps, within their powers, to ensure camps are problem free and strive towards zero-deaths.

There is only so much I can do as a Non-Executive Chairman given the fact that I do not have executive powers.

I am never directly involved in the administration and management of the National Service Training Programme and the Camps which falls squarely on the shoulders of the National Service Training Department’s Director General and his officers. Camp Commandants take directives and instructions from the Director General and his officers not from the Council.

I have often discussed with the Director General and advised him to keep a close watch on the health and safety of all National Service Trainees under our care.

The health and safety of National Service Trainees are among the many issues brought up by the Council Members each time the National Service Training Council meets.

In fact the idea of mandatory medical check-ups for National Service Trainees prior to their participation in the Programme was recommended three years ago but it could not be implemented by the Ministry of Health.

Just two weeks ago I met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence to discuss the need to revisit the suggestion of compulsory medical check-ups for National Service Trainees. I even recommended to the Deputy Prime Minister to consider recruiting full-time doctors to be stationed in all camps.

Even with compulsory medical check-ups there is no assurance that trainees, who having been certified healthy, will not fall ill in the course of their 3-month stay in the camps.

Hence what is necessary is for all medical complaints of trainees to be properly investigated and attended to in terms of medical attention.

If the sick trainees show no signs of improvement after 24 hours they must be sent immediately to the nearest hospital for further treatment as stated in the Standing Operating Procedure.

Camp Commandants and the medical personnel in the camps must never take risks when it comes to the health of the trainees. Every illness must be treated seriously no matter how trivial it may be.

Calls from the public for each death to be thoroughly investigated, the results to be made public and action taken against those responsible must be carried out in line with transparency.

As Chairman of the Council I am compelled to state that each time a death occurs in the Camps it nullifies all the good work and efforts put in by the Council and the Department to promote the National Service Training Programme.

Moreover it seriously affects the confidence of the public and parents, in particular, in the National Service Training Programme.

I confirm that various improvements have been undertaken since the National Service Programme was introduced in 2004 as recommended and discussed at the Council.

However although improvements have been introduced what really matters is the implementation of these improvements by the people in charge of the camps.

In the final analysis what to me is crucially important is whether all those given responsibilities and the trust to manage the camps discharge their duties with care, honesty, integrity and a sense of commitment.

To me the caring approach, attitude and culture towards trainees needs to be further reinforced if we are to prevent anymore mishaps.

I maintain that the National Service Training is a good programme for building discipline, character-building, unity and community service as has been testified by the vast majority of former trainees and their parents but it has to be properly managed by committed and truly caring people.