YB. R.S.N RAYER - A.D.U.N. SERI DELIMA, PENANG

IPOH: Several DAP leaders are calling for the suspension or even scrapping of the National Service programme.

Batu Gajah MP Fong Po Kuan said she had submitted notice to table an emergency motion in Parliament following the latest death of an national service trainee.
“There had been many deaths,” she told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin at the State Secretariat yesterday.

Too Hui Min, 18, who was assigned to the Geo Kosmo National Service Training Camp in Kuala Kubu Baru, died at the Slim River Hospital on Wednesday at 10.45pm after complaining of constipation.
Kem PLKN Jiwa Murni Semanggol has been placed under quarantine by the Kerian district health office due to an outbreak of a fever since early this week.
At least 10 of its 300 trainees have been warded at the Taiping Hospital, while 80 others are being treated at the camp.

Fong said these clearly showed that there were weaknesses in the programme, as even the most basic needs of health and safety were not fulfilled.
“I will also be calling on Defence Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to stop the programme immediately as some 110,000 young people will be taking part this year,” said Fong.
Reiterating her objection against the programme, Fong said it was impossible to achieve unity, instil love for the country and build one’s character in merely 90 days.

Meanwhile, Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran suggested that the national service programme be suspended for a parliament select committee to conduct a thorough study to see if it was worthwhile.
“No parent wants to send his child to an NS centre, only to have the child's body returned to him,” he said.