Another Pot-shot at the NS Scheme

What’s all the fuss about shooting some live rounds of ammo?
Could be that some kids have been watching too many violent VCDs and think blasting your enemies off the face of the earth is cool.

I have many reservations about the NS scheme primarily since it was conceived and implemented within six months of the Cabinet’s “inspiration”.

We have had the expected incidents of deaths, rapes and fighting and abusive trainers.
With 85,000 odd youths it is not surprising, as many of them have been living in isolation from their peers for many years created by the segregation caused by the school system.

Now it seems that handling a gun and firing live bullets is going to be part of the character-building exercise. Any psychologist care to explain how learning about a lethal weapon can develop more character?

It appears that too much allocation has been made for the NS scheme and they are now able to look for creative ways to spend the money.
If we take 85,000 trainees each year and only 50,000 opt for the live firing of 20 bullets each at RM0.50 each, that is about RM500,000 that is going up in smoke for cheap thrills.

That money could be better used to start a uniformed group in 100 schools with an annual grant of RM5000 each. Fostering national unity and discipline needs to be done earlier like Tingkat 1.

One other aspect of NS that is bothers me is that those who complete the training are given points for university entrance. As NS depends on the luck of the draw, this only disadvantages those who were not selected. University selection is one great big mess that appears beyond redemption with the present system.


Photo: http://www.demigod.org/~zak/pictures/rm3g-2003-preview/bad-m16.jpg