Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak should present a white paper in Parliament next week to give a detailed break down of the RM500 million expenditure a year since 2004 for the national service programme.

According to opposition leader Lim Kit Siang, the break down should show "what, how, where, who and when the expenditure under the programme were made."

"Has the national service training council ever focused on the accountability, transparency and integrity of the programme?" he asked in a statement today.

"The programme should be a model of transparency and integrity with a full public accounting of the more than RM2 billion spent in the past four years to prove that every sen was honestly used for the welfare of the trainees," he said.

Lim raised two questions pertaining to this.

Firstly, he said, is the identity of the private company given the contract to design and implement the computer programme to select 85,000 18-year-olds for the programme.

He also questioned if there was an open tender for the project as well as the value and full details of the contract.

Secondly, he added, are the full details about the award of the multi-million ringgit contract for the uniforms for recruits every year and was there an open tender exercise for this.

Total review

Lim said the time has come for a total review of the programme, which has been plagued by defects, flaws, mishaps, crimes and tragedies. A total of 19 trainees and trainers have died over the years.

The opposition leader also called for an end to the 'cult of secrecy' and to allow elected representatives full access to the training camps to allay parental concerns about the safety and welfare of their children.

"End the misnomer of calling it 'national service' as it has nothing to do with national defence or fighting a war but to instill national unity, discipline and patriotism," he added.

The veteran politician quoted the warning of Chinese philosopher Confucius 2,500 years ago on the dangers of not using the correct language.

"The appropriate term is not 'national service training programme' but 'national youth service," he said.

The compulsory training programme, approved by Parliament in 2003, was mooted by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Najib, who is also defence minister, is directly in charge of the programme.

The trainees are randomly chosen from eligible youths aged 18, although the scheme covers those up to 35-years-old.

Absentees are liable to be charged and could face up to six months' jail, a maximum fine of RM3,000, or both.