‘No to PLKN 3.0 over fear of bullying’

PETALING JAYA: The parliamentary bipartisan committee is firm on its stand that the National Service (PLKN) 3.0 should not proceed until its shortcomings are ironed out, says Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah.

This comes despite the release of the Parliamentary Special Select Committee (PSSC) on Security’s full report on the programme at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Saifuddin, who is the nation building, education and human resources development special select committee chairman, urged the government to address the concerns outlined by the committee in its report.

“We maintain our position (of opposing PLKN 3.0). Has the government fulfilled the PSSC’s recommendations?

“(We oppose it) Until our justifications are duly and satisfactorily addressed,” he told The Star yesterday.

Previously, Saifuddin said that the committee had recommended Putrajaya not to proceed with the launch of PLKN 3.0, as more studies should be conducted before it is revived.

Meanwhile, among the concerns outlined in the full report released yesterday included concerns over bullying and provocation among trainees.

The PSSC said even though the trial run of PLKN 3.0 would not involve a “junior-senior” relationship among participants, there were still concerns that bullying and provocation could occur.Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim agreed with the PSSC, to put on hold the implementation of PLKN 3.0 until concerns on bullying are addressed by the government.

“The concerns of potential bullying, provocation and ragging by trainers or coaches expressed by the PSSC should not be taken lightly by the government.

“Recent incidents of severe bullying resulting in death in universities are still vivid in the minds of some parents and we are not yet assured of our children’s safety,” she said.

According to the report, the trainees would be supervised at all times and CCTVs would be installed at training camps to help curb bullying.

Azimah, however, said these measures would not guarantee the safety of the trainees.

“Such safeguards can still be outsmarted by people with bad intentions. Since the government has decided to still pursue PLKN 3.0, it should take heed of the genuine concerns, findings and recommendations by PSSC and offer solutions,” she added.

Anti-bullying advocate Wan Azliana Wan Adnan said there would be a need for comprehensive measures to safeguard the trainees from bullying.

She said that a “train the trainers programme” would help educate them on how to deal with bullying at training camps.

“The government has a responsibility to provide a safe environment and to actively prevent bullying during the PLKN programme.

“They should have clear anti-bullying policies that outline what constitutes bullying and the consequences of committing it.

“These policies should be well-communicated to trainers and trainees. They also should have a system for trainees to report bullying,” said Wan Azliana, who is also the Malaysian Women’s Aspiration Association (Aswa) president.

She added that bullying in such settings could take place in various forms, including physical, sexual and mental.

In 2013, it was reported that a total of 23 deaths were recorded at camps nationwide since the National Service training programme started in December 2003.