Camp operators found to have sub-contracted their work for quick bucks will be put to pasture
BAU: The National Service Training Council (NSTC) will no longer tolerate operators out to make a fast buck rather than take good care of trainees at camp.
The council’s chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe, who gave this warning, revealed that more than 10 National Service (NS) camps nationwide had been closed down so far because the operators sub-contract to many parties after securing the main contract.
He said those camps were told to cease operation because of many reports of food poisoning and poor facilities caused by ignorance of the operators.
“We do not want operators who are dishonest and do not care about the students (at NS camps).
“They cut rations, facilities are of poor quality and there are cases of food poisoning,” he said when met at his Christmas open house at Kampung Suba Bandar, Bau on Saturday.
To avoid a recurrence, he said NSTC was reviewing the process of selecting operators.
“We want to check the background of applicants before approving their applications.
“They must also be able to run the camp themselves, and not ‘sub con’ it,” he said, adding that the NSTC planned to set up two more new camps soon.
Presently there are 79 NS camps nationwide accommodating 3,000 trainees at any one time.
Selangor has the most number of camps (10), while Sarawak has eight.
On a related matter, Dr Tiki said new sub-modules, which would come under the main module of ‘character building’, would be introduced for the NS programme next year.
Four trainers from each camp nationwide might be sent to undergo special training for this module.
“For the sub-modules, the trainees will be taught about work ethics, occupations and so forth.
“Another subject will be on social and gender studies, where the students will be taught about family ties, intimate relationship between boys and girls, and to teach girls not to fall into social traps.
“However, the module will need to be refined to avoid overlapping in the subject,” he said.