The United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia (Dong Zong) today welcomed a recommendation to allow students in Chinese independent schools to postpone participation in the national service programme, which begins in February.

"We support the proposal," said Dong Zong student affairs department head Saw Guan Kung when contacted today.

"While we have no objections to the national service programme, we are unable to adjust our education system to fit in the training periods."

Dong Zong oversees the country's 60 Chinese independent schools, all of which run a six-year education system. Students sit the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) in their sixth year (senior middle three).

Saw said Dong Zong had received information that 300 students from 20 Chinese schools had been selected for national service training. Those concerned are currently in senior middle two, which means that their examination preparations will be affected next year.

"We expect there will be more students who are selected since we have 60 Chinese independent schools," he said.

Information gathering

Saw indicated that there was difficulty obtaining feedback from those selected because of the school holidays. However, the association will step up information gathering and submit its findings to the national services training council.

"At the moment, we are only obtaining feedback from students and sending their applications for postponement to the council. The final decision on whether or not to participate is up to parents and students," he said.

Yesterday, The Star reported that the council had proposed to the government that three groups of trainees be allowed to postpone national service training.

The first group would comprise those sitting the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination at the age of 18. They would include students who have attended Remove class for a year and those in Chinese independent schools who sit the examination after six years of secondary education.

The second group would be made up students who have made arrangements to study abroad and have paid their fees before the start of national service selection. They would have to produce the receipts from foreign institutions of higher learning when applying for postponement from training.

The third group covers "pre-university students," including those entering Lower Six, who have to start their classes before training begins.

Task force

The Star today quoted MCA president Ong Ka Ting as saying that students entering Form Six, pre university or college should be given a chance to pursue their studies as well as complete national service training.

In the same report, MCA Youth secretary Loh Seng Kok had urged the government to grant exemption or postponement to students entering colleges and universities in the year of their selection for training.

He suggested that those involved be allowed to report for training only after they graduate, rather than during their semester breaks which may be needed for research or practical training purposes.

Loh heads a special task force set up by the party's youth wing to obtain feedback on the national service programme. The task force is working with eight other Chinese-based youth organisations.

The pioneer batch of national service candidates were selected on Dec 8. The first batch of trainees will be trained from Feb 16 to May 2, while the second and third intakes will be trained simultaneously from March 22 to June 13.

Under the National Service Training Act passed in June, those absent without leave or reason are liable to be fined up to RM3,000 or jailed a maximum of six months, or both. Those who abet them in any way face similar penalties.