To cut cost, only 100,000 young men may be recruited for the
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Cabinet okays scaled-down NS plan
To cut cost, only 100,000 young men may be recruited for the national service programme which will kick off next year
By Brendan Pereira
KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian Cabinet has approved plans to launch the country's national service (NS) programme next year but decided to scale down the number of youths involved to cap the cost of the programme.
The Straits Times understands that about 100,000 young men could be involved in the programme, a sharp drop from the 450,000 young Malaysians who were expected to be enlisted.
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Prohibitive cost was the sole reason for the decision to scale down the scheme. The decision was made by a committee set up to plan for national service earlier this year.
The scaling down was decided on Wednesday, but officials were tight-lipped about the decision or the content of the programme, saying that several details still needed to be ironed out.
A comprehensive national service package for 450,000 youths would have cost the government several billion ringgit a year, with some estimates putting the final figure at RM5 billion (S$2.3 billion). That outlay would have been difficult to justify at a time when uncertain global economic conditions have slowed growth in the country.
The Straits Times understands that legislation governing national service will be tabled in Parliament next month.
The Malaysian government last year proposed introducing national service for 18-year-olds to instil patriotism and discipline in them and to encourage the mixing of races.
Since then, a committee headed by Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak has worked to shape the content of national service with feedback from political parties and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
To cut cost, the committee suggested that training be conducted on existing college campuses. It also identified 54 tertiary institutions as training centres.
The committee also proposed that the national service stint be for six months and include a military component.
But in recent months, there have been suggestions that as a cost-saving measure, the duration of the training stint be shortened.
It in still unclear what criteria will be used to select national service trainees.
Several NGOs have proposed that those who are working or are continuing their studies be exempted from national service -
haha
it is a case of wanting something cheap, fresh and big breast...
it seems that they are willing to pay big bucks for hardware.....
when it comes down to the most important aspects of all..... human resource, they are talking about cutting costs......... -
Err....they have the manpower they just do not have the $$ to implement the system lah.They are even using Collage and Univarsity campuses instead of building the infrastructure needed.....basically it's gonna be like a 6 month long school campOriginally posted by kanzer:haha
it is a case of wanting something cheap, fresh and big breast...
it seems that they are willing to pay big bucks for hardware.....
when it comes down to the most important aspects of all..... human resource, they are talking about cutting costs......... -
siew
today we go gym play 2 hrs of badmintion
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Fortunately, their version of NS is similar to our "gotong royong" in the late 1960's - performing community work; and not too much military training (no weapon training) except for marching.
With so many J.I. potential over there, it will be crazy to provide legitimiate and professional military training to some crackpot fundamentalists. -
You mean same as our National Education scheme?Originally posted by Atobe:Fortunately, their version of NS is similar to our "gotong royong" in the late 1960's - performing community work; and not too much military training (no weapon training) except for marching.
With so many J.I. potential over there, it will be crazy to provide legitimiate and professional military training to some crackpot fundamentalists. -
The Malaysian NS plan is not so much for the purpose of military training, but more for the purpose of racial integration - so it was said.
Given the stated duration of the intended Malaysian NS, there will hardly be any further time left beyond BMT, if Military Training has to run its full syllabus to produce a full fledge infantry man. -
hahah, now then they realise.
Lets count for ourselves the cost of each of the items issued to us during bmt... helmet, sbo, etc. + food lodging, training cost.
Then let them multiply by 450,000.
I'd like to see how long they can support it. -
after the NS (and BMT) , the youths will be "encourage" to join the volunteer reserves units like the Territorial Army or Civil Defense.Originally posted by Atobe:The Malaysian NS plan is not so much for the purpose of military training, but more for the purpose of racial integration - so it was said.
Given the stated duration of the intended Malaysian NS, there will hardly be any further time left beyond BMT, if Military Training has to run its full syllabus to produce a full fledge infantry man. -
i know no one is going to believe this, but each NSmen's uniform costs around 3-4k. all the uniforms/badges of the SAF, SPF, CD are supplied by 1 company in singapore named pepino.
and i happen to be the one that's designing a new logo and webpage for them. -
"...each NSmen's uniform costs around 3-4k." as in his entire wardrobe of garments issued on his first day of BMT ?Originally posted by nismoS132:i know no one is going to believe this, but each NSmen's uniform costs around 3-4k. all the uniforms/badges of the SAF, SPF, CD are supplied by 1 company in singapore named pepino.
and i happen to be the one that's designing a new logo and webpage for them.
"SOFT ITEMS"
3 pcs camo uniforms
3 pc PT Kit
3 pc vests
1 cap
3 socks
1 duffle bag
1 haversack
"HARD ITEMS"
2 pairs boots
1 pair running shoes
1 helmet
1 water bottle
1 set mess tin
1 meal tray
1 spoon
1 entrenching tool
"CONSUMABLE"
1 tin powder
1 tin kiwi polish
1 brush
anything missing from above list for 3-4k..?
Or are you referring "Uniforms" as in only the camo outfit, which is near impossible for 3 sets to cost 3-4k.
From the list above, the most expensive item will probably be the "kevlar helmet", then the entrenching tool. -
no gas mask meh?
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I think he meant the uniform....you know the number 1 number 2 number 3 and number 4 uniforms.....Originally posted by Atobe:"...each NSmen's uniform costs around 3-4k." as in his entire wardrobe of garments issued on his first day of BMT ?
"SOFT ITEMS"
3 pcs camo uniforms
3 pc PT Kit
3 pc vests
1 cap
3 socks
1 duffle bag
1 haversack
"HARD ITEMS"
2 pairs boots
1 pair running shoes
1 helmet
1 water bottle
1 set mess tin
1 meal tray
1 spoon
1 entrenching tool
"CONSUMABLE"
1 tin powder
1 tin kiwi polish
1 brush
anything missing from above list for 3-4k..?
Or are you referring "Uniforms" as in only the camo outfit, which is near impossible for 3 sets to cost 3-4k.
From the list above, the most expensive item will probably be the "kevlar helmet", then the entrenching tool. -
hah? number one uniform very ex meh? the buttons so lousy somemore. especially the SPF uniform. chrome comes out so easily///
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dunno lah haha all tailored for u 1 rite?Originally posted by SingaporeMacross:hah? number one uniform very ex meh? the buttons so lousy somemore. especially the SPF uniform. chrome comes out so easily///
anyway the rest of ur kit would be at least 2,000....the 2 boots plus PT shoes already $300 -
must tailor meh? i tot jsut got a few sizes then just take..
yah the pt shoe new balance one..not cheap -
lol dunno dunnoOriginally posted by SingaporeMacross:must tailor meh? i tot jsut got a few sizes then just take..
yah the pt shoe new balance one..not cheap -
wah piang m'sia ns got to do wif sporeans meh?
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ya it does......Originally posted by IntegraType-R:wah piang m'sia ns got to do wif sporeans meh? -
I believe that Number 1, 2 and 3 are no longer issued to everyone in the SAF, while Number 4 is the camo-standard combat piece for every SAF personnel in the Army.Originally posted by |-|05|:I think he meant the uniform....you know the number 1 number 2 number 3 and number 4 uniforms.....
How does the 3-4k per soldier come in?
Running shoes and combat boots cost $300 ?
With the issuing of 2 pairs of combat boots and 1 pair of running shoes for a total of $300, this is too high - considering the volume that is being purchased. This works out to be about $100 for each pair of combat boots or running shoes, which is about the retail price that we buy off the shelf.
SAF do not pay "Off-the-Shelf" prices for "Off-the-Shelf" standard items.
We Singaporeans are avid shoppers, and it is doubtful if we fail in this mission while making the "biggest bang" for each buck spent for the SAF. -
Hmm... If the malaysians factor in how much it actually takes to train a combat ready soldier, maybe they realize their need to show off is offset by the need to be economically sensible. Heh heh heh.
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i think it's no.3 and no.4.
i couldn't recognise the uniform type except 1 is white.
what's expensive is the badges, not the uniform itself.
and it's 3k per uniform. -
oh man... it costs so much for lousy chrome plating?
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If our northern neighbour is serious about NS as nation building they should go all the way. That is, abolish the regular army and replace it with a conscript one ala the IDF Zahal. Don't they realize how much money that will save the nation? Can't have both
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National service to line pockets or instill patrotism? (Malaysiakini)
Eric Mudasi
4:13pm Mon Jun 16th, 2003
So the national service is to be implemented come February 2004 - the cost, a staggering RM500 million. Is there some sinister agenda behind this? Why the secrecy? Is it really about instilling patriotism, sense of unity and loyalty in our children?
I as a non-Muslim parent would like to ask pertinent questions regarding the implementation of this 'rushed through project'. If it is to instil loyalty by serving in an uniformed body, I after serving 26 years in an elite fighting unit - having risked life and limb for this country - do not have feelings of loyalty towards this country.
Why? I have been used and discriminated against. Loyalty, I had, but that was snuffed out of me, leaving me with lingering resentment. Most non-Muslim parents do not know much about the military service, and on their behalf, I would like to raise valid and legitimate questions, after all, it is our tax money.
Does the national service organisation have professional and impartial instructors? I doubt it. Why? Take for instance, General (Rtd) Zaini Mohamed Said, who gave a directive not allowing non-Muslim soldiers to pray in camps. Please refer to my letter to malaysiakini, "Soldiers not allowed to pray" in February 2002.
This directive was issued after a discussion with his disgraced boss General (Rtd) Md Noh Che Arshad, who was then chief of army (disgraced - asked to leave the service for taking kick backs). All these generals are from the Royal Malay Regiment the largest infantry organisation in the Malaysian military and the most polarised, as all are Malays, only Malays serve in these regiment.
The majority of instructors in the military training establishments are from this unit. They would not have an inkling about religious and racial tolerance, it will even be worse down the ranks. If you have bigots at the highest levels of the military, my question is how on earth are they going to provide 'non-racist' instructors for our precious impressionable young teens.
Soldiers of whatever religious persuasions whilst on parades are forced to raise their hands like Muslims during the saying of the grace (doa selamat). They do not have a choice or they are marked men, but then they serve by choice. The pathetic excuse given is that it is for uniformity.
What about our children? To me the children will have a choice, as they have been conscripted (by decree), they do not have to raise their hands come what may, unless they have a joint saying of grace like in the US or the Indian Army. I would feel very offended if my child was forced to raise her or his hands. I will not allow it nor stand for it.
Is there any thought or effort going to be made for the religious needs of the non-Muslims - Sundays for Christians, Tuesdays or Fridays for Hindus and for people of other religious beliefs. Will the training programme cater for this need? For the Muslim conscript, this will be catered for as seen from the training programme for the Malaysian Military Academy, or Atma. If you notice here you do not see a semblance of anything to cater for the non-Muslims.
This is the moment to make big bucks too. The army insists that all officers wear and use a certain brand of belts from the UK, meaning the Sam Browne belt - each costs something in the region of RM300-plus. Only that is allowed, all others are not. The poor officers cry when paying for them. RM300 might be a paltry sum for some, but paltry too is the pay.
The same applies to shoes. The list goes on and that is only the tip of the iceberg. Probably Umno needs to raise funds for the soon-to-be called general election. What better way than through the RM500 million?
I believe at the end of the day if all these unequal treatments are not addressed, the conscripts will come out feeling like second-class citizens. Not only that, it multiplies the ill-feelings of the parents too towards the country. Parents are unforgiving, if the above is not addressed seriously, the by-products for these will be not loyal patriots. Is anybody out there listening?