Is This National Service Efficiency?

More than 1,000 National Service (NS) trainees from Kelantan returned to their homes Monday after buses arranged to transport them to their camps failed to turn up at the pick-up point at the Sultan Muhammad IV Stadium here.

Thousands of parents who had accompanied their children who were selected to participate in the programme at camps in Kedah, Perak, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan and Kelantan almost had a showdown with NS secretariat officers after having waited for the buses for more than three hours from 7.30 am.

The youths are part of the NS trainees of the first series of training this year from Pasir Tumbuh, Pengkalan Chepa, Kota Baharu, Wakaf Baharu, Palekbang and Tumpat, and had been instructed to gather there one hour before the departure of the buses at 9.30 am. Pick-up points have also been arranged in Gua Musang, Jeli and Pasir Puteh.

Hundreds of parents crowding around the tent housing the NS secretariat staff to enquire about the delay were angered when an officer Abu Bakar Mohd told them the NS secretariat officers were there only to register the trainees and that the transport was arranged by a contractor who did not show up.

Several officers from the Road Transport Department (JPJ) were present there to check the permits of the buses, many of which are usually school buses and tour buses.

One of the parents, Zainal Abidin Fathuludin, who is a member of the Kelantan NGOs Council, helped to calm the situation by announcing that the departure of the NS trainees has been postponed until the new date is announced in the newspapers, radio and television.

Several parents lamented that such an incident should not have occurred because the NS programme has been going on for a long time. Nik Mohd Amir Nik Ismail said the NS secretariat should ensure that all arrangements are in order and should also take into account the school session as well. "There was disorganisation today. The buses arranged for are also in poor condition. Today is the second day of Hari Raya (Aidiladha). We could not go anywhere but come here and wait for the buses," he said.

Halimah Yusuf said the NS secretariat has been undertaking this operation for a long time and it only went to show that the management is inefficient.

"They should have had foresight. Today is the second day of Hari Raya and tomorrow children have to start the new school year.

"If the arrangement was done next week, this chaotic situation will not have occurred," said Halimah, who had been waiting there since 7 am.
Earlier related post: Trainees Must Report To NS Camps On Jan 1st. A Heartless Order.
Image - noames