'Too lazy to treat sick kids'!!?

Reading this has jolted me from my seat this morning. Are we sending our children to participate in the National Service to be subjected to these "treatments"!!?

TheStar Online

'Too lazy to treat sick kids'

By ROYCE CHEAH

PETALING JAYA: After just 10 days into the second session of national service this year, a parent has pulled his son out of the programme claiming the boy had not received proper medical attention.

T. Raja Mohan, 46, who went to Kem Paya Indah in Kuala Langat late on Wednesday to pick up his son Melvin Mohan, 17, lodged a police report yesterday claiming the camp had treated his son’s asthma attack with indifference.

“My son suffered an asthma attack during one of the evening physical training exercises. The trainers took him to the clinic at the camp but it was locked.

“When the chief trainer told a trainer to open the door and treat my son, the trainer said he was too lazy to treat sick kids and they should be left to die,” Raja Mohan, a product trainer, alleged in the police report.

Melvin said after this happened, he started gasping for air until the attack subsided.

At the family’s home in Puchong here yesterday, Melvin said that when he first arrived at the camp, the sergeant asked him about his asthma and whether it was serious.

“I explained to him that it would occur if the weather was too cold or if I over exerted myself. The sergeant then said it was nothing too serious and allowed me to join the programme,” he said.

Melvin also alleged that a number of the trainers at the camp were rude and intimidating.

“One of the trainers kept swearing at us (trainees) and constantly challenged us to question his authority.

“Some trainers also made veiled threats that they (trainers) could make our three months there a living hell,” he said.

Melvin said the food at the camp was also of poor quality.

When contacted, NS Training Department director-general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said they were aware that Raja Mohan had removed his son from camp.

“We will investigate the matter once we receive a report from the camp commandant,” he said.

Abdul Hadi said trainers and camp commandants were made aware of the medical conditions of certain trainees and to take note of those who were not physically fit.

Camp commandant Nordin Abu declined to comment.

Threats!!? Challenge of authority!!?

Are these 'nonsense' what's being thought and practiced in the service!!?

So.. my skepticism over the National Service when it first launched is confirmed by all the 'happenings' here. Though there are assurances from friends and other people that this National Service scheme is good for our children, as it will make our children more responsible as well as disciplined. But.................. (I am lost of words now...)