KUALA LUMPUR: A majority of Malaysians agree on the reimplementation of the National Service Training Programme (NS3.0).
According to a survey conducted by a non profit organisation, Architects of Diversity (AOD), 67 per cent out of 2,633 respondents across various demographics supported the revival of the programme whereas only 11 per cent had disagreed.
"74 per cent of respondents overwhelmingly believe that the National Service would have a very positive or positive effect on society, with only a negligible four per cent thought it would have a negative or very negative effect on society.
"Notably, millennials, who experienced National Service first hand, exhibited the highest level of positivity at 78 per cent."
The survey also found that the importance of national unity emerged as a resounding theme for the priorities of the programme followed by youth development and patriotism.
However, military preparedness consistently ranked the lowest across all demographic groups in the survey.
Despite the overwhelming support, several concerns regarding implementation issues surfaced in the survey.
"Sexual harassment and bullying towards participants emerged as top concerns, with 52 per cent and 49 per cent of respondents expressing deep apprehension, respectively.
"Additionally, worries about politically biassed content were prevalent, with 41 per cent voicing significant concern."
However, issues pertaining to cost and time were deemed less alarming, with fewer than one-third of respondents expressing serious concern.
The AOD also came out with a few recommendations for the government for the revival of the programme in aspects of diversification of trainers and trainees, expenditure transparencies, and the creation of an ombudsman committee to handle complaints.
Commenting on the programme's revival, Parliamentary Special Select Committee on Security member Syed Ibrahim said he had been in talks with the then committee's chairman, Tan Sri Johari Abdul on the matter where he stressed the need to review it.
"He had expressed his need for it to be reviewed. Revive it, but with modules that have been improved, he told me.
"I am continuing his legacy and instructions for it," he said.
As such, he said, the revival of the National Service programme needed to be properly planned.
Meanwhile, former National Service deputy commandant Major (R) Ismail Mohd Hassan said the new revived programme should focus on improved facilities.
"The accommodations, regardless of occupancy size, be it for four, 10 or 20 trainees should be improved to the fullest.
"If not, it would detrimentally impact the success of the revived programme. This present generation is not as the previous ones, they are more aware and susceptible of the little things like this," Ismail said.
On Oct 8 last year, the then Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said the programme would be making a comeback pending paperwork submission to the National Security Council (NSC) first before approval.
The programme, he said, can be organised at the existing 13 army camps and one police camp and will be held over a 45 days session.