All National Service (NS) trainees attending the next session, which kicks-off on June 25, will be trained to use the M-16 assault rifle.

Earlier, such training had only been made available to participants who volunteered to be trained in the use of the weapon. It also faced stiff resistance from certain quarters.

Deputy Defence Minister Zainal Abidin Zin said all the 32,000 NS trainees joining the 3/2006 intake will have to undergo firearms training using the rifle.

However, he said NS trainees given exemptions by doctors could forego the firearms use modules.

"All will have to undergo this aspect of the NS training...except for those given exemptions by doctors," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Positive response

Previously, National Service Training Council chairperson Lee Lam Thye had said that no one would be forced to undergo firearms training at the NS camps if they were not keen or not confident enough to handle weapons.

A total of 34 firing ranges, 14 belonging to the Malaysian Defence Forces (ATM), 16 from the police and eight owned by state governments, have been identified for the purpose.

The firearms module will involve eight hours of theory at the camps and one day of shooting practice at the firing range.

Last year, the National Service Training Department and the ATM ran pilot projects on the firearms module at six NS camps and found the feedback from participants involved to be positive.

Zainal Abidin said parents had also given positive feedback on the firearms module as they wanted their children to be more robust.