The marines tell it to NS teens they’re wira and wirawati, not anak tiri

 By Helen Ang

 

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Some thoughts on theSun’s spindoctoring discussed in Toss the Sun-block! Danger, danger, Sun-stroke …

 

Edmund Bon had summarised the implication of the survey findings which indicated that young Malaysians are increasingly becoming polarised. He commented that the underlying problems – “education policies, scholarship issues, quotas, both religious and racial policies” – would be better looked at than banking on ‘superficial’ national unity campaigns which merely scratch the surface.

 

One programme into which much money poured was the over-hyped Rakan Muda. I remember the snazzy and doubtless expensive ad campaign in mainstream media, both print and broadcast. And on TV, the rousing jingles touting the national youth programme. Whatever happened to Rakan Muda?

 

Back in end-2003 when National Service was launched, there was such a shortage of non-Malay trainers that Najib Razak who chaired the NS cabinet committee threatened to enlist the ‘Nons’ under the National Service Act. I wonder what the racial composition is now and if the trainers possess an adequate cultural sensitivity.

 

The organisation chart of the Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara online lists 17 office holders by name, of which 15 are Malay-Muslim (with bin/binti), with one Indian in Customer Service and one ‘Sulaiman Kho’ (Chinese-Muslim name possibly). Since NS is an Army-affiliated programme, doubtless Malays predominate throughout the hierarchy.

 

In national schools, non-Malay pupils and parents have complained about Little Mullah Napoleons. In NS, the girls are required to tutup aurat (cover up), fastening their shirt to the topmost button at the neck, or so a conscript released from the most recent batch told me. I observed the truth of that statement in my visit to camp on Open Day – the non-Malay girls were indeed obediently buttoned-up, whether wearing jungle fatigues, shirt or T-shirt (the 3 long-sleeve uniform sets).

 

In May 2004, Najib had promptly declared upon the completion of the first NS stint that it was “a resounding success”. The newspapers dutifully transcribed his words.

 

Freelance journalist Anil Netto, who does not write in Malaysian MSM, reported on May 4: “But most participants apparently don’t like it and there is widespread public unease over major and minor incidents, including violence, gangsterism and truancy.” http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/FE04Ae01.html

 

Najib’s cousin, Hishamuddin Hussein assured the public, “We do not want isolated untoward incidents to cloud public perceptions about the real potential of the programme. Although they were only minor hiccups, a review of the programme is important to prevent them from recurring.” (NST, May 1, 2004)

 

The ‘minor hiccups’ have ballooned to about 20 deaths, by some counts. The official NS website says nothing of this and therefore I cannot quote an official figure. Was there any ‘review’ as promised by the Education Minister? The anguish caused bereaved families continues unabated.

 

And what is ‘the real potential’ of the 3-month internment? To cook up patriotism in 3 minutes like instant noodles when 13 years of segregated schooling and deprived education opportunities would tend some otherwise?

 

My jaw dropped when I read the Wikipedia citation on National Service. Under its Nation Building module, Wiki says trainees are taught in the classroom on “loyalty towards the current government, Barisan Nasional”.

 

So the NS integrates Malaysian youth under the BN banner, eh? Oh sure, being told they’re ‘Wira’ (warrior boys) and ‘Wirawati’ (girls) in camp may well convince some of the teens that they’re not ‘Anak Tiri’ (stepchild).

 

At the end of the training, these youths will be absorbed into two different education streams. The non-bumi take the STPM route whereas the bumi enjoy the matriculation gateway, preferred critical courses, scholarships and other forms of support like special tutorials and lenient marking. In the meanwhile, the Education Ministry fudges on how apples are really oranges in Bolehland, and creatively spindle exam results and faculty ‘statistics’ for the unbelieving.   

 

There is also the UEC (Unified Examination Certificate) which takes Chinese youth to Taiwan, Singapore dan lain-lain universities – something Namawee rapped about in ‘Negarakuku’ – but the cert not recognised in Malaysia.

 

For other qualified but excluded youngsters, there are always the private colleges. For the underprivileged, Malaysia thinks its fine that they sell pirated DVDs at the pasar malam or cell phones at shopping mall booths, I guess. These Bangsa Malaysia kids may love their country but does their country love them?

 

 

Posted in: Bangsa Malaysia