NATIONAL SERVICE, BTN SCRAPPED, TO BE REPLACED WITH NEW MODULES

Replacement programmes will be inclusive, transparent, says minister

THE government has scrapped the National Service (NS) Training Programme and National Civics Bureau (BTN) programme, which will be replaced with training modules that are more inclusive, transparent and free from political and racial indoctrination.

The new programmes, which will be managed by the Youth and Sports Ministry, will involve a restructuring of staffing, financial allocations and assets of the NS Training Department and BTN.

Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said the decision to scrap the two programmes was reached in two previous cabinet meetings, but added that the resources under the previous programmes would continue to be used.

“The welfare of officers, staff and contract workers will be safeguarded, including by absorbing them into the Youth and Sports Ministry. NS and BTN will be replaced with new programmes that can build youth who have vision and strong character.

“The new programme, which will be managed by the Youth and Sports Ministry, will involve a restructuring of positions, functions, financial allocations and assets,” he said at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

Syed Saddiq said the new programmes would combine highimpact indoor and outdoor activities.

The new programmes were aimed at bringing out the potential of youth to become strategic partners in nation-building and would be formulated based on the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara.

“Elements to be inculcated (in youth via the new programme) are to build spirit, character and national integration, spirit towards the nation, identity and political socialisation.

“These improvements are in line with the ministry’s aims to uphold the youth voice in the new Malaysia landscape.”

Syed Saddiq said these efforts reflected the government’s aspirations to ensure the new programmes were inclusive.

Earlier, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng explained the government’s aspiration in improving character-building for youth with the new programmes to replace NS and BTN.

“Considering that the programmes will involve collaborations spanning ministries and agencies, the Youth and Sports Ministry will conduct engagements with the Prime Minister’s Department, Women, Family and Community Development Ministry, Defence Ministry, Education Ministry and non-governmental organisations, such as youth organisations, to fine-tune an effective implementation mechanism.

“This engagement session reflects the Pakatan Harapan government’s aspiration to ensure the programmes are more inclusive, transparent and free from political and racial indoctrination,” Lim told the Dewan Rakyat.

Former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin said BTN contained elements of political indoctrination.

“The National Service 2.0 (had no political indoctrination) because it focused on nationhood and skills to promote civic unity.

“National Service 1.0 did not have much (political indoctrination), but it had weaknesses due to a lack of skills training as it focused on military skills, discipline and other things.

“BTN had it (political indoctrination). Faham-fahamlah (You know better),” said Khairy at the Parliament lobby.