DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) today urged the government to delay tabling the bill on the proposed national service programme. It is expected to be set before Parliament when it reconvenes from Monday to June 26.

Dapsy national secretary Loke Siew Fook said tabling of the bill should be postponed for at least six months to enable public debate and scrutiny of various aspects of the programme.

The special cabinet committee on national service was to have submitted its recommendations to the cabinet in late April, according to its chairperson and Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak.

In a statement today, Loke said the "credibility" of the programme was questionable for two reasons.

"Firstly, he (Najib) has broken his promise to make the details public by the end of last month. As of today, 12 days into June, he has not made any announcement on this," Loke said.

"Secondly, if it's true that the bill will be tabled during the next Parliamentary session, it will be be bulldozed and rubber-stamped by the backbenchers without comprehensive and proper debate."

This is because Barisan Nasional controls two-thirds of the parliamentary seats, and can muster sufficient votes to pass legislation.

Bill not circulated

Loke said DAP members of Parliament have yet to received a copy of the bill.

Dapsy, among other youth organisations, had earlier complained about being kept in the dark over the proposal.

He also expressed doubts over the effectiveness of a proposal - as reported in Sin Chew Daily on Monday - that participants would be selected "through lottery".

"If this is true, it would be most ridiculous and would pose even greater problems and questions about the mechanism of enlistment. There will also be a question mark over the principles of fairness and equality," he said.

"Dapsy calls on Najib to immediately make public all details and to declare that the programme will not be implemented until national consensus is reached on its viability and suitability for our society."

Sin Chew Daily, quoting sources, said the selection process would be done through lottery to scale down the initial expected annual intake of 450,000 youths to about 50,000, in order to save costs during the three-month training period.

The source said those not selected would have to join voluntary bodies for six months where the spirit of patriotism could be instilled in them.

Opinion sought

Under the proposal revealed last November, the six-month programme is due to be implemented from next year and to involve all youths - including women and students studying abroad - aged 18, and students who have completed their SPM examination.

A national committee, which includes five other ministers and two deputy ministers, has recommended that a law be drafted to act against those who fail to participate in the programme. This committee is also headed by Najib.

In March, a newspaper quoted sources in reporting that the government would excempt students with excellent academic performance, as well as those who are technically skilled or studying abroad.

Najib, however, refused to confirm the report beyond saying that the cabinet would make a decision "soon". He pledged that public opinion would be sought before the bill was finalised and tabled in the Dewan Rakyat.