Does the government directive to exempt young mothers from national service include unmarried mothers as well?

While welcoming the directive, two prominent women's groups have urged the authorities to clear the air on this.

"Yes, we welcome the move, but many things have not been clarified," said Women's Aid Organisation (WAO) president Meera Samanther.

"Our biggest concern is in the case of single mothers who cannot provide a marriage certificate. Are they part of the exemption too?" she asked when contacted yesterday.

Yesterday, The Star reported that those who are child-bearing or with children will be granted an exemption if they can furnish birth certificates and marriage certificates.

Loh Cheng Kooi of the Women's Centre for Change also commended the government for issuing the directive.

Describing it as a positive move, she said it showed that the government is taking steps to recognise childcare in this country.

"If a student is pregnant, breast-feeding or taking care of her children who are of a very young age, she is in absolutely in no position to take part in the national service training," she added.

However, Sisters in Islam (SIS) programme director Norhayati Kaprawi said the directive is self-explanatory.

"They (the government) do not consider single mothers who are not married, or mothers who have chosen to adopt children and who are not married either.

"As usual, as with the whole programme, not much thought has been put into the whole matter and things need to be more transparent," she said when contacted.

Why firearms training?

Meanwhile, both Loh and Samanther, when asked, agreed that more has to be done to ensure the safety of trainees, especially girls, during their stint at the camps.

"We have not been approached by any government body on advice about the issue of rape and sexual abuse at camps," said Loh.

"I think the biggest shortcoming with this whole programme is the fact that it was implemented in a hasty manner without open discussion with organisations or members of the public," she added.

In the end though, argued Samanther, it boils back to the simple lack of respect towards women.

"What better place to instill these values than at the camps? Women's rights and even human rights should be part of the module taught to those who are part of the training," she said.

The women's groups also questioned the necessity to incorporate firearms training and warned of the risks involved.

"There does not even seem to be a rational explanation as to why students of that age should learn how to handle such dangerous weapons. Accidents can happen," said Loh.

"The programme has become too 'militaristic'. The participants should be given the option of not using the rifles or perhaps there should be approval from their parents beforehand, said Norhayati.