Zero-death target for NS - The Sun

By Tim Leonard

KUALA LUMPUR (May 27, 2008): The Government is now pushing for zero deaths in National Service camps nationwide, ordering camp commandants to rush trainees to hospital even for a mild fever.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, who is also Defence Minister, said the top most priority for camp commandants is to ensure no trainees die in camp during national service training.

"I have instructed the commandants to rush any trainee to hospital even though it is just a mild fever. We want to have zero percentage of deaths in the national service. The Government has been entrusted with a huge responsibility by parents and we can’t take this matter lightly."

Najib told reporters this after a meeting with camp commandants in a hotel here today.

A total of 16 deaths have been recorded since National Service started more than four years ago. These deaths took place while the trainees were directly undergoing training. There were also instances where deaths occurred a month or two after the trainee had left the training camp.

The last case was 18-year-old Too Hui Min from Taman Bayu in Selangor, who was undergoing training at the Geo Kosmo NS training camp in Kuala Kubu Baru.

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