KUALA LUMPUR: There must be a balanced approach in addressing the need for a new National Service Training Programme (NS), says its former director-general, Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil.
Responding to the parliamentary special select committee's recommendation not to reinstate the programme, he said it is important to address weaknesses rather than abandon the initiative altogether.
"The committee must present the weaknesses as to why the programme should not be continued.
"However, if there were shortcomings during my tenure, the government should not use them as a justification to discontinue NS. Instead, efforts should focus on overcoming those weaknesses," he told the New Straits Times.
On Wednesday, the special select committee on Nation-Building, Education and Human Resource Development maintained its stance against the continuation of NS 3.0.
Its chairman, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, said the committee had been briefed on the new programme's concept and format but found that they did not meet the previously outlined justifications.
Hadi once served as the director-general of the National Service Training Department from 2007 to 2014.
He said that the select committee's role is to review policies and implementations to ensure they align with national interests. However, the final decision rests with Parliament and the government.
Hadi said that a comprehensive study conducted in 2010 by a Malaysian research body involved over 60,000 respondents, including former trainees, teachers, university administrators, and employers.
"The findings indicated that NS had successfully achieved its objectives, such as fostering unity, enhancing patriotism, and equipping youth with essential skills.
"The programme's objectives were clearly outlined and, based on the study, had been largely met. Therefore, any decision to discontinue it should be thoroughly deliberated," he said.
He acknowledged that implementing a large-scale programme like NS is challenging, with inevitable issues, but such challenges should be addressed constructively.
"For any problems encountered, we must find solutions to improve the programme. Simply discarding it due to shortcomings is not the right approach," he said.
Hadi reiterated his personal support for NS, calling it a valuable platform for youth development. He urged decision-makers to consider its benefits and find ways to enhance its effectiveness.
"A well-implemented NS can play a significant role in shaping responsible, united, and skilled citizens," he said.