‘Patriot’s claims baseless’
> Hisham urges army veteran group to give constructive criticism instead on NS
KUALA LUMPUR: Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein has called on army veteran groups to provide constructive criticism rather than hurling baseless allegations over the National Service (NS) programme.
In response to a claim by the National Patriots Association (Patriot), Hishammuddin said: “Why must the issue be turned into a polemic? We are not perfect. If there are any issues, they need to bring it forward to us.”
Hishammuddin was speaking at a press conference after attending the soft launch of the International Exhibition on National Security Asia and the Defence Services Asia 2018 Exhibition and Conference at the Malaysian International Trade and Exhibition Centre yesterday.
Patriot had claimed that the NS programme had not produced results and failed to inculcate patriotism among the youth.
The group had reportedly alleged this was partly due to the programme being handled by inexperienced personnel.
Hishammuddin said his ministry had previously asked for recommendations from various groups to improve the programme.
He added feedback from the veterans he had met indicated that the majority of the group appreciated what the government was doing.
“To point fingers at us, it is not something that is constructive,” he added.