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National service marked for Malaysian youth
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia -- Malaysia has proposed introducing compulsory national service for all 18-year-olds beginning in 2004. Under the program, about 400,000 young Malaysians -- men and women -- will be sent to training camps at any one time and will have to compete basic military drills during a six month stint. Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak, who chairs Malaysia's national service Cabinet committee, revealed the proposal on Tuesday. "The program will stress on generally accepted universal values, which would be acceptable to all races," Najib was quoted as saying by Malaysia's The Star newspaper. The objectives of the national service are to increase flagging patriotism amongst young Malaysians, emphasize racial harmony and mould individuals into better human beings, he said. Najib added that 18 was not too young an age as it was important to "catch them young." "Once people move on with age, they become firmly rooted in their attitude and beliefs and are difficult to change," Najib said. Only those deemed medically unfit would be exempted from the universal conscription, while those overseas when called to serve could apply for deferment for a few years. The program's costs, infrastructure and curriculum have yet to be worked out with the government still to present the plan to political parties, the public, and non-governmental organizations.
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