A dodgy question
THE names of the 9,000 who skipped training without authorisation have been forwarded by the National Service Department to the Attorney-General's Chambers and the police for further action. The fact that many in the list did not turn up at their assigned training camps several years ago indicates that there has been a delay in prosecuting them. Indeed, the fact that only three absentees have been charged in court for evading training since the programme started in 2004 underscores the disinclination to take court action. And so does the recent issue of seven-day notices to 500 dodgers to show up for training to give them another shot at avoiding police action. Perhaps the prosecution of Perlis teenager Ahmad Harizal Ahmad Fauzi, the first and the last to spend time behind bars under the National Service Act 2003, had a great deal to do with this seeming reluctance to take legal measures. After all, it was his tale of family woes that put in motion the chain of events that led to his release after a day in jail and the legislative amendment of 2009 that replaced a fine and prison term with community service.
But as understandable as this hesitancy to criminalise the offence of avoiding national service was, now that the punitive penalty has been removed from the statute books, the authorities cannot dodge their civic duty to take action. But as the police had largely preferred to rely on other means, such as discounts, rather than knock on doors to pursue evaders of traffic summonses, it remains to be seen whether they would be willing to track down teenage dodgers of training camps.
Admittedly, with 9,000 to locate and many cases old and the trail cold, it won't be easy. Still, though it seems rather late in the day to get tough now, somewhere along the line, action has to be taken. When national service is required by law and only those who meet the stipulated conditions can receive exemptions or deferments, failure to prosecute would be unacceptable. Allowing them to get off scot-free makes a mockery of the law and sends the wrong signal. Certainly, those absent with just cause, such as having to work to support their families, should be excused. But no one should be allowed to deliberately and intentionally ignore the call to attend training. Certainly not when statistics show that a great majority of the more than 500,000 who have gone through the training programme has given it the thumbs up in fostering unity and understanding.
Admittedly, with 9,000 to locate and many cases old and the trail cold, it won't be easy. Still, though it seems rather late in the day to get tough now, somewhere along the line, action has to be taken. When national service is required by law and only those who meet the stipulated conditions can receive exemptions or deferments, failure to prosecute would be unacceptable. Allowing them to get off scot-free makes a mockery of the law and sends the wrong signal. Certainly, those absent with just cause, such as having to work to support their families, should be excused. But no one should be allowed to deliberately and intentionally ignore the call to attend training. Certainly not when statistics show that a great majority of the more than 500,000 who have gone through the training programme has given it the thumbs up in fostering unity and understanding.
0 comments:
Post a Comment