Aliran Media Statement
Doing National Disservice
Aliran is appalled by the government�s audacity in incorporating a section in its national service bill that would empower it to punish concerned Malaysians who criticise the nationwide training scheme.
The proposed bill appears to be so �well protected� by the government that even parliamentarians, let alone ordinary citizens, are not immune from prosecution if they criticise the new legislation.
Why is this legislation formulated to deter criticism? Is it because the new law is so well thought out that it has no weaknesses? Or are there some sinister components in the Bill that, the government fears, would invite condemnation from the public?
As it is, the bill, draped in secrecy, has already fuelled suspicions about its real objective. Needless to say, this is not an intelligent way to instil confidence in the public, much less to promote patriotism.
It is only natural for a scheme such as this - which has serious implications for the mental, psychological and physical health of young adults - to raise concern among parents. Parents therefore have every right to demand vital and adequate information from the government about the national service proposal. To penalise them for asking blunt and searching questions � even after the bill is passed � is downright undemocratic.
Why is there such a rush to pass this Bill without consulting a wider spectrum of society? Has this business of "instilling patriotism" got anything to do with the coming general election? In the last general election, some 680,000 new voters were denied the chance to vote as their registrations were not processed in time for the polls. Many of them were believed to be disenchanted with the current government. Are these new voters going to be among those who are earmarked for national service - especially since the targeted age group for national service has been widened to include citizens or permanent residents between the ages of 16 to 35.
National service is going to drain a large amount of taxpayers� money and it is only right that the government should be made accountable to ordinary people. Their money must be seen to be properly spent for a cause that would really benefit the people and the nation.
We call on all parliamentarians - government and opposition - as well as concerned citizens and civil society groups to urge the government to rethink this questionable and financially burdensome project.
Aliran Executive Committee
This statement was sent to the local media including The Star, New Straits Times, and The Sun.
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