29-10-2024
KUCHING : Sarawak human rights advocate, Peter John Jaban, is calling out the Madani Government on its recent announcement of new ‘national service’ requirements, due to begin in January 2025.
He is demanding that parents and the public are given proper justification as to why ‘selected’ children as young as 16 should be taken away from their families and placed in training camps under the supervision of the Malaysian Defence Force, as announced by Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari on 27 October.
“This is the third attempt at such a programme in Malaysia, the previous two ending in complete failure. The last was suspended under claims it was being used for indoctrination of ‘certain beliefs’.
"But now the Madani government are trying again, with all the same problems and still no explanation of who will be targeted, what they will be taught and even why this is needed,” Peter said in a statement endorsed by four other activists.
Jaban said, to make matters worse, this new programme is going after even younger children who should be at home with their communities, not forced into camps with other conscripts.
"Does the Deputy Minister really think that the Malaysian Defence Force is better able to care for children than their own parents, especially given the recent coverage of extreme abuse at the National Defence University which resulted in the tragic and terrible death of a 20-year-old naval cadet who was not safe in his own barracks?” he asked.
Jaban said the Deputy Minister has acknowledged that ‘the public need not worry about the country’s security and defence capabilities’.
"So, what is this program about? And what has happened to cause the Government to rush this program in to operation in January instead of in June as it had planned?" he further asked.
The Deputy Minister has said that ‘when they leave the national service programme, they will have a sense of identity’ and ‘have the highest level of ability to succeed in their respective fields’.
"Should they not be getting this from the national education system where the curriculum is clear? What are the values and what is the identity that the Deputy Minister thinks that the Malaysian Defence Force can instil in these young people that requires them to be removed from their homes, their communities and even their states?” Peter pointed out.
He went on to say: “This cannot be considered ‘National Service’ when it only applies to a ‘chosen’ few. Why is there not any transparency in the process? What criteria are they using to select these minors? What rights do parents have to say no to the Government in order keep their children safely at home? All Malaysians should be demanding to know who is being targeted and on what basis. After all, your children could be next.”
He said choosing to join the armed services is one thing but imposing this arbitrary and pernicious plan now on a ‘pilot group’ of young people, when its necessity is not immediately apparent, should be triggering alarm bells for everyone.
"The Madani Government and the Ministry of Defence must be more transparent on this programme and its role in modern, multicultural Malaysia.
"Parents break their backs to build a safe haven for their kids to thrive in, a safe space to grow, vetting their friends and allowing only those with similar values to mingle with and now the government wants to strip them of this shield by forcing them to send their kids away with 10,000 strangers governed by a bunch of adults from unknown backgrounds?
"Hasn't the last incident of sexual assault in the national service taught anyone a lesson yet?" Peter added.
The four other activists who endorsed Jaban's statement :
1.Daniel John Jambun
Presiden, Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
2.Timothy Jagak
Gabungan Orang Asal Sabah Sarawak
3.William Dino Watson
Persatuan Etnik Dayak Asal Sarawak
4.Stephanie Lazarus, Secretary General of MOPOT
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