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National Service: A parent's concerns

2007-03-07T17:15:00.000+08:00

0% says: A good read, from a concerned parent

http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/64208

National Service: A parent's concerns

Malay Academic
Mar 7, 07 4:57pm

I am a parent of five children - two boys and three girls. One was drafted in the introduction phase of the National Service programme and a second child 'escaped' being taken away from me.

The National Service programme is an idea which I am in total agreement with. But its implementation calls to mind too many questions of import. Questions which has a detrimental affect on the very lives of our children. I cried silently for those parents who had lost the lives of their children due to the National Service.

Yes, accidents occur and yes, honest mistakes happen and yes, Allah has allotted a certain period of our lives on this earth. I am willing to accept all these if my children's time has come. But I will not accept the weak and questionable reasons thus far given by those who are in charge of this whole exercise.

At the very top of the list is the curriculum and pedagogy. The objectives are noble for which I am in full agreement with. The objectives, it seems, is about racial integration which this government, whom I as an academic and a concerned Malaysian feel, has failed to deliver in the primary, secondary and university school systems.

The second noble objective seem to be to instill a sense of national spirit and service to the community. And a third seems to be to instill a sense of discipline and toughness to the next generation of Malaysians.

I must, however, raise questions as to the effectiveness of the programme's objectives. I have personally interviewed several NS trainees and also my observation as to their behaviour and opinions including that of my eldest child. The very first question I ask of the Malay trainees is how many Chinese trainees' phone numbers have you collected? The answers range from one to none.

Of course, mine is a small sample but other independent bodies should take up this research project. Next, I would observe my daughter's and the other trainees' behaviour towards the community. Would they now leave the sanctity of their video games and handphones and get involved in the community? Nothing. No thoughts, no gestures, not even an inkling of wanting to think about any community involvement.

Finally, with respect to the third objective of toughness and self-discipline, the children come back home to their rooms eating chocolate and watching Astro without wanting to jog or exercise. Some of my friends have even complained that their children who have been raised to pray five times a day coming home with a different attitude about prayers. Thus, with this very small sample, I hypothesise that the National Service programme is nothing more than a camping trip. Clearly, I think we may have the wrong curriculum and pedagogy.

I remember one occasion when I sent my daughter to a summer camp at Sungai Lui. The trainers made my wife and I cry with my eldest daughter in just under two hours of introduction to the camp's objectives. The three of us never felt as close as in that few minutes which serves as an outstanding testimony to the camp's method of instilling love and a loving conscience.

We need the proper people for National Service and not just any one. Just because the founder of the camp I mentioned was an opposition member, that should not be a reason to exclude such honed skills and talents. The last time I checked, he was a long-time civil servant and still carries a Malaysian identity card.

Next concerns the health of our children. I am most saddened by National Service Training Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye's answer to the question of medical examinations before entry. He simply said that there are too many trainees to have a feasible medical examination exercise.

Excuse me sir, but you are forcing parents and 'drafting' our children. Once you take them, I am holding you responsible for their lives. In the course of her training, my daughter became sick and started coughing on the fifth week when I visited her. When the cough persisted on the sixth week, I asked permission to take her out to the doctor. She said she had already seen the NS 'doctors' and they were not effective.

Though the trainers refused permission, I took her out anyway and she went AWOL for three days. I took my daughter to a clinic and made sure she took her medication properly for the next three days. She had acute bronchitis and when it subsided, I sent her back to camp with the stern advice that she skip anything strenuous or wet in her programme. If she was too severely punished, I would come and take her home. I was told that she and her friends were made to roll like dogs in the puddles of rain-soaked grass. Very patriotic.

I have three more children, and I am not satisfied with the answers given by the National Service programme officials on the matter of all the deaths and rapes for the simple reason that there seems to be no independent inquiry. I will not give up my children easily to the National Service because of these hard questions.

I want the National Service officials to give parents a complete tour of the facilities and to adequately inform us of the programme on the site that my child will be stationed. I want the trainers to answer all my questions about the programme to the point that I am satisfied that if anything happens, it was a genuine accident and not because of some half-baked idea or exercise.

Firstly, our children are not military types so please get those army people out of the programme! I don't mind the 'brainwashing sessions' as these would not be fatal but reduce the military aspect of the programme significantly or take it out altogether. My children have been 'drafted' for only three months but I have taken care of them for 17 years. I have more invested and I will protect my investment in any way possible. So, please, if no one can vouch for the military part, get rid of it totally.

I have written these concerns as a father with no political agenda whatsoever. I would never let my daughter take a taxi alone anywhere. I would not let my 10-year-old son cycle on a Malaysian roadway. I would not let any of my little ones on any one of the Malaysian school buses. I would thus betray my natural sense of protectiveness by signing my child's life away to the National Service programme with all its glaring flaws that have recurred again and again.

There are many more things that I can write about concerning this programme but it would be sufficient that I covey some simple messages. Firstly, re-examine the curriculum and pedagogy. Secondly, get the real expert trainers and not any Muthu, Lim or Ahmad. Thirdly, parents must be briefed properly with tours of the programmes and exercises. Fourthly, get rid of the military-style programme or tone it down to a mild Boy Scout hike. Fifthly, and most importantly, allow an independent investigation of any deaths or mishap. None of this 'from a single source' nonsense. This is our children we are talking about. Yours and mine.

Some people have gotten away with a lot of things in the course of our country's history. But this is different. I, for one, will refuse to send any of my children to a National Service camp if the changes I call for are not given grave consideration.

NS Deaths stands at 19

2007-03-04T05:37:00.000+08:00

This is a no-brainer statement:

March, 2nd [Bernama]

Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said the number of deaths in the programme was comparatively small.

"While we are very sympathetic over the deaths, we feel that the reporting should not be overblown.

"From 2004 to 2007, about 240,000 NS trainees underwent the courses with only eight deaths. In other words, with a population of 240,000, the rate of death is in fact much smaller than that in the general population," he told reporters after attending the MCA Central Committee meeting here today.

Chua said that under normal circumstances, the mortality rate of those aged between 17 and 18 years in this country was 1 in 1,000 persons.

0% says: You can say this, so long as it is not your own son or daughter.
#$%@&*!! - a death is a death, somebody's daughter DIED b'cos she was selected for this idiotic NS thingie. SCRAP THE NS PROGRAM! Don't let the youngs die for nothing.

Internet Users Cautioned Over Sensitive News, Pictures

2007-02-26T12:49:00.000+08:00

I don't believe this ????

(Bernama) -- Deputy Internal Security Minister Datuk Fu Ah Kiow today reminded Internet users against circulating sensitive news or pictures that can jeopardise public order and security.

He said that while the government did not filter Internet content, it did not mean that Internet users were immune from prosecution.

"If we find anyone circulating news or pictures that can post a threat to public safety, we will take action," he told reporters after a Chinese New Year celebration organised by the Kuantan Chinese Consultants Committee here today.

He was asked to comment on the circulation of pictures of local illegal motorcycle racers or "Mat Rempit" on a website managed by a company using a server abroad.

Asked whether action will be taken against the company, Fu said it would be difficult to trace the company as its server was located overseas.

Fu also reminded Internet surfers to be wary of and not be easily influenced by the news and pictures circulated in cyberspace.

What's a Blog ?

2007-01-29T17:29:00.000+08:00

Here's a letter to MalaysiaKini, written by Michael which is a good read.
http://www.malaysiakini.com/letters/62738

Blog content only a personal opinion
Michael Jan 29, 07 4:37pm

I write this letter out of interest in what is being discussed these days about bloggers. There seems to be the general view that blogs or bloggers are part time journalists or want-to-be journalists. While it might be obvious why many people have this view, this certainly is not what a blog is. A blog by definition is in fact:

a private webpage which is published by either an individual or a group of individuals.
are commonly personal journals/diaries and are used to comment on all sorts of topics depending on the interests of the blogger (author).
is usually updated frequently, maybe monthly, weekly or even daily, all depending on the blogger.
Most blogs enable visitors to post comments and/or suggestions allowing interactivity between the blogger and visitors.

Short for ‘Web Log' this term refers to a list of journal entries posted on a Web page.

Anybody who knows how to create and publish a Web page can publish their own blog. Some Web hosts have made it even easier by creating an interface where users can simply type a text entry and hit ‘Publish’ to publish their blog.

Because of the simplicity of creating a blog, many people (often young kids and adults) have found a new presence on the Web. Instead of writing confidential entries in a book that no one is supposed to see, people now can share their personal feelings and experiences with thousands of people around the world. ‘Blog’ may also be used as a verb, as in ‘Wow, Ali sure blogged a lot last week’.

What the above implies is that blogs are not by nature online newspapers and thus are not to be held to the same high standard of truth as newspapers are. Now I know many people are going to complain that the two blogs that are being sued are different and should be held to the same standard. But they are not. They are, in fact, a personal view by one person(s). In other words, they are they thoughts and opinion of a person’s own mind - nothing more or less than that.

They pose their own thoughts on certain subjects and then allow other people to post their own thoughts on what the writer has said, no different then you sitting in your local coffee shop and telling your friend you do not like a certain actor because you think he is conceited (even though you have no actual proof of that) and your friend disagrees with you.

Yes, the Internet has a much larger audience and is in the public domain, but no person was ever forced to go to a website, no person was forced to read it and no person was told this is the truth - believe it. All blogs usually post that these are of opinions of the author only. Similar to writing letters to the editor of Malaysiakini or The News Straits Times or The Star. How is it any different?

No matter what your beliefs are, no matter what you think facts are facts and the fact here is that blogs are defined as a personal diary or journal (not to be confused with newspapers which are suppose to report news and the truth). Blogs have never stated their contents are the actual truth but only an opinion of one person(s) that may or may not agree with those of other people.
Look up the definition of blogs and bloggers and you will find hundreds of sites and dictionaries explaining the same as above. You can not simply rewrite a definition just because you do not agree with it. Even if a blogger claims they have conducted research and that their statements are based on actual reports, their content are still a personal journal and nothing really anymore than that.

Lastly, I would just like to say to your readers to do a little research yourself on the Internet and see how many mainstay newspapers around the world have actually taken a lawsuit against a writer or a person for defamation - you will find very few. What most respectable newspapers would do is to instead opt to write a rebuttal about what had been written about them.

Why does the NST not do the same? They have the space and the ability to write even a full-page column about what had been said about them.

Joint Statement issued by Ahirudin (Rocky) and the NST

2007-01-29T12:50:00.000+08:00

Quoting from The Associated Press:

A joint statement by Ahirudin and the NST said both parties agreed to "henceforth not publish any articles, comments or posts regarding the dispute presently before the High Court" that may prejudice a fair trial.

Ahirudin's counsel Edmund Bon said his client voluntarily removed about 400 comments received from readers because some may be construed as "borderline subjudice." The comments were in response to four entries posted after the lawsuit announcement.

"It is in no way an admission that any of the content was subjudice," Bon told The Associated Press. "There was no way to remove only selected comments, so we had no alternative but to put it all off-line ... We do this to err on the side of caution, to let the judicial process take its due course."

In Support of Bloggers-United - Defend your right to free speech!

2007-01-21T08:39:00.000+08:00

Bloggers-United Condemns The Action Against Rocky Bru & Jeff Ooi & Demands Level Playing Field in All Action Against Malaysian Bloggers

This is the official statement of Bloggers-United. This statement is jointly drafted by Susan Loone and Sheih of Kickdefella. All those who believe in justice and right to free speech, please sign on and put this up in your blogs. Spread it around; let it grow far and wide. The fight is on! See also kickdefella.

We are a group of Malaysian bloggers who believe in justice and right to free speech. We, who endorse the Bloggers-United movement , unanimously condemn the action taken by media conglomerate NST against bloggers Rocky Bru and Jeff Ooi. The action by the newspaper against the duo is an action against all bloggers who believe in their right to free speech, freedom of expression and justice.

The recent event may seem like a grave development in the path of bloggers, but it can never and must never impede or stop us from defending our right to speak, to express, to write and to tell the truth, to be the watchdog, eyes and ears of the people, or simply to share our view, and give fair comment on any subject which involves and affects us as humans, as rightful citizens of this country.

The recent event may very well give the government owned media the opportunity to dictate the so-called ‘truth” but such actions only prove that bloggers must unite , continue to uphold the right to free speech and freedom of expression, fight for justice, even if it is not our own, be more alert, committed to the cause of free speech, relentless and persistence in the face of such persecution like the one which had befallen on the two of us. What YOU do to any of US, is what YOU do to ALL.

As responsible bloggers, we demand and claim our space on the blogosphere for free and fair comment, where important national issues and prominent personalities are discussed.

Although it may seem as if the NSTP defamation suits will have a chilling effect on freedom of bloggers, as litigation can be expensive and may jeorpadise a blogger’s economic position, we will not be cowed or silenced by those who have no regard for free speech.

If you find our post offensive, you may refute us with correct facts and figures and fair comment, in the spirit of free speech.

The first two cases will have grave impact not only on the internet, but country as a whole as the country celebates VMY2007. The healthy, mature and democratic growth for free speech and expression in our midst is at stake. The reputation of the nation as it strives to promote our multimedia supercorridor and love for IT will be a national joke for all the world to feast on.

We demand for a level playing field in all action meted out to bloggers and in particular in the defamation proceedings particularly in terms of financial resources and capabilities, and secondly, that the legal rights of bloggers et al are properly protected in keeping with the imperatives of an information society and knowledge economy which Malaysia aspires to become.

For further information, please contact Susan at susanloone@gmail.com and her partner in crime Sheih of kickdefella at kickdefella@yahoo.com

My 1st Post

2007-01-21T07:17:00.000+08:00

Hello everybody,

This is my very first post in this 0% blog of mine.

Question 1: Who am I ????

I really do not know, at this moment in time, guess I'm totally lost in identity = 0%

Question 2: What am I gonna blog about ????

I really do not have the slightest idea what to post, guess I'm totally out of ideas = 0%

Question 3: Why was this blog created in the first place ????

I really cannot remember the reason why, guess I'm totally lost in memory = 0%

Question 4: Do you need help ????

Huh ? I really should seek assistance, guess I'm totally lacking in the necessary skills required to continue here = 0%