National Service deferral does not affect staff, says Hishammuddin

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said National Service camp operators nationwide will continue to receive their salaries despite Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announcing today that this year’s programme was deferred as part of Putrajaya’s national budget revision. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 20, 2015.National Service camp operators nationwide will not be affected by Putrajaya's decision to postpone the programme for 2015, said Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The Defence Minister said camp operators and trainers would continue to receive their salaries as their positions were permanent, not temporary.

In announcing the revised budget earlier today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the National Service Training Programme (NSTP) for 2015 had been deferred, adding that this will save Putrajaya RM400 million.

Hishammuddin told reporters that the Defence Ministry wholeheartedly supported Najib's announcement.

"We are not running away from what we want to do," Hishammuddin said, adding that national security was still being prioritised.

There are 85 NSTP camps nationwide, except in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya.

NSTP was introduced by Najib, then the defence minister, in December 2003, which involved 18-year-old youths in Malaysia.

It was supposed to be a two-year programme although it was gradually shortened to the present three-month period.

The purpose of NSTP was to encourage friendship among youths of certain ages from different races and ethnicities.

Its objective was also to address concerns that the various races were becoming increasingly isolated from one another.

But, since its implementation in 2004, NSTP has been shrouded in controversy after major incidents such as rape, sexual assaults, brawls and deaths.

About 23 deaths have been reported since NSTP began, with the opposition calling for the programme to be scrapped. – January 20, 2015.