The present plan for case-by-case considerations of deferment from the national service programme is time consuming and should be replaced with a general rule for exemption instead, said DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang,

In a statement today, he cited complaints from irate parents of selected candidates who have made plans for their children to commence post-secondary studies in January, and that they fear they will unlikely receive a response to their appeal by early January.

He said the National Service Training Council at its first meeting next Monday should address the problem of whether the appeals by selected candidates can be heard in time.

Cut red tape

Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak said yesterday that the council would "deliberate" the matter before informing the applicants and that appeals can only be made after candidates have received notification letters which will only be sent on Dec 15.

Lim stressed that the National Service Training Council should alternatively develop a general rule to exempt, reschedule or exclude affected candidates, as there was no need for the council to "deliberate" the cases which were fully legitimate.

"The Cabinet on Wednesday should review the issue and come out with the proper directives in keeping with the new prime minister's clarion call for an end to red tape and unnecessary bureaucracy" he said.

The national service candidates were selected on Dec 8 and the council's plan has caused mixed reactions among them.

The first batch of trainees will undergo the programme from Feb 16 to May 2, while the second and third batch will commence concurrently on March 22 till June 13.