Girl should be exempted from NS
As usual, the authorities are applying the law blindly. Come on. Life is most valuable than precedents or other rules. NS has already claimed a number of young lives needlessly and has revealed many abuses including sexual. Perhaps, it’s time for Badawi to revamp it. Exemptions should always be granted under extenuating circumstances.
In most laws, the highest authority, namely the minister in charge of the portfolio has unfettered discretion to grant exemptions. Here is a good reason to do so. To insist on the daughter’s attendance at NS is damaging to the girl, to say the least. Already traumatized by her brother’s death, she should not be made to go through it again. It’s natural for the parents to feel paranoid. Now is the time for Badawi to show that he is humane and human after all.
Grant exemption to the girl!!!
The Star: 23rd Sept 2008
NS Dept: Jane Lim must attend training
PETALING JAYA: Jane Lim must still attend National Service (NS) training because her brother’s death is not a valid reason for exemption.
NS Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said it had no authority to exempt the 17-year-old from the programme because her brother Ricky died nine days after his NS stint.
“If she wants to defer training or be exempted from the programme, she will have to submit an official request to our department according to normal procedure,” he said. Abdul Hadi said Jane could only be exempted from the programme if the reason given for her request fell under the conditions stated in the National Service Training Act.
On Sunday, Jane’s parents Lim Geok Kim and Meng Yeok said they would not let their only surviving child go for the training following the Ricky’s death.
Ricky, 20, passed away on Sept 15 after completing his three-month NS training on Sept 6.
The SMK Catholic High student did not complain of any illness or pain prior to his death but he did complain about the camp’s hygiene and yellowish water supply.
In a press statement, Abdul Hadi said Ricky attended all training modules without suffering from any health problem, except for a cough and mild fever.
“He followed the training as usual after receiving treatment from our medical staff,” he said.
He also said the Lagenda Gunung Ledang Asahan camp had received clearance from the Jasin Health Department on June 18 and was safe to be used.
The report also showed its water supply had been treated at the Jasin Water Supply Department in Malacca, he said.
In Malacca, Lim remained firm on his decision not to allow Jane to attend the training. He said he and his wife would not accept any reasons from the authorities. “We will not let her go and I don’t care what it takes. My son’s death is already totally unacceptable for us and we are sure we will not take any risk of losing my only surviving daughter, he said.
“I will not bother to write to apply for anything (exemption). If any warning letters (from the authority) come I will just tear it,” he said.
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