417,000 ex-NS trainees for gathering and patriotic test

(Bernama) – Some 417,000 former national service trainees who attended the programme over the last five years will be regrouped to gauge whether they still have the patriotism spirit.

Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the gathering next month was also aimed at reviewing the objective of NS and whether the RM3.2bil spent was worth it.

“The ministry will study the effectiveness of modules implemented at training camps,” he told reporters after a meeting with 300 trainees at the Bukit Besar camp here yesterday.

Also present were Deputy Defence Minister Datuk Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad and National Service Training Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil.

Zahid said the ministry was also considering a special identity for NS trainees aimed at improving their image in society.

Other than personality, it would also involve the use of a specific symbol to show that they were NS graduates.

The ministry would also form local advisory and monitoring committees where Umno members in all 222 divisions nationwide could give views on the programme.