Set Up Task Force Committee To Ensure Safety At Upnm Plkn

---

 
In light of the death of navy cadet Zulfarhan Osman Zulkarnain seven years ago and the severe bullying cases that have come to the public’s attention, I have little confidence in defence minister Khaled Nordin’s response to the cases reported at the National Defence University (UPNM).
I am appalled and in despair over the many deaths, sexual assaults, fights and numerous other cases linked to the first national service training programme (PLKN), where no task force was formed and no accountability established.
I fear that more severe bullying cases will occur at UPNM if these incidents are treated merely as administrative oversights.
Even the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ibrahim, has expressed concern over the incidents of severe bullying at UPNM.
As an academic teaching at universities, a parent of five children, and a grandparent of four, I take all cases of bullying in schools, madrasahs and universities with the utmost seriousness and concern.
There is no higher cost than the loss of a life. In the PLKN, 23 lives were lost; at UPNM, it has been one-so far.
My philosophy is that the loss of even one life is one too many.
I have been appalled by some politicians in the past who dismissed the NS deaths as a “small percentage”.
The “tak apa lah” (don’t care) attitude among our politicians, administrators and the civil service is well-known.
The idea that “heads must roll” does not seem to exist in our administrative leadership.
PLKN administration heads did not roll, and I am certain the same will happen with the UPNM affair.
This is unacceptable.
When the deaths in PLKN became unbearable, I called for a public task force, but my call was ignored.
I now call for a public task force to assess the dangers our children might face—both in the near and distant future—at UPNM.
The task force must determine what kind of culture has produced a bullying mindset that does not value life and limb.
It must also ascertain whether the administrators, wardens and academics are psychologically fit to understand the meaning of life and health for all the children educated at this institution.
I do not believe that simply producing more wardens is the answer. I also do not believe changing the leadership of the university is the solution.
I had previously called for the suspension of this institution because I knew that nothing significant would be done, and our children would remain in jeopardy.
Turning soldiers into so-called academics and wardens for our children—without the proper qualifications in young adult supervision—was the primary mistake of the PLKN, which resulted in the deaths of 23 of our children.
These 23 young lives had their futures ripped away, while their parents have had to endure the nightmare of surviving without them.
I promised myself that there should be no more threats to our children from bureaucratic negligence or callousness.
If they are to remain in operation, the government must form an external committee that will serve as a vigilant watchdog over both UPNM and the PLKN.
The main goal of this task force is simple: to ensure that our children stay alive and well during such militaristic training.
Our children are not soldiers.
There have been military cadets who have also died during training, and their deaths remain questionable in the eyes of the public.
My concern here is for the children. I have no confidence that the military can care for our most precious possession and responsibility.
The task force and committee in charge of safety in both the PLKN and UPNM must consist of public citizens of integrity, not “yes men or women” who only seek to serve the interests of politicians or the civil service.
The task force must be racially balanced and include members with academic, medical and training experience.
Only one-quarter of my recommended 12 committee members should come from the civil service or be former civil servants. The chairman must not be from the civil service or the military.
Our children are our future. Our children are our nation’s hope. Their health and safety must come before all else.
We, the people, demand nothing less. - FMT
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

---