National Service May Solve Youth's Social Problems
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Compulsory registration of all male citizens and permanent residents (PR), who have reached 17 years old, in the military or Police National Service can be the answer to the issue of nurturing youths to be more socially responsible.

Observers from all sectors of Brunei society said that enlistment in the police or military can give purpose in life, endurance and social responsibility amongst the young generation of this country

The time is now right for National Service to be implemented since an economy driven by the private sector remains an illusion, which has deprived the nation's young generation of the much-needed dynamism, patriotism and nationalism, observers claimed.

This situation may occur if family bonds diminish as the youths become more materialistic. Most of the young people tend to become individualistic and uncaring towards their society, observers said.

"One classic example can be seen when one experiences a car breakdown, very few young people would stop and help," observers said.

They added that the National Service ensures future leaders to a life of accountability to the society they belong to and reinforces survival skills unavailable in the current education mainstream.

The youngsters should be enlisted for 2 or 2½ years of full-time National Service immediately after they reach 18 years of age.

After undergoing training in National Service, the youths should also be required to serve 40 days of Operationally Ready National Service every year until the age of 50 years (for officers) or 40 years (for non-officers), they said.

Such posting either in the military or in the police force depends on the educational qualification, physical fitness and the manpower requirements of each service.

"Those who do not register and enlist for the compulsory military service should be made liable to be convicted by the civil court where they may be imprisoned for up to 3 years and/or fined up to $5,000.

"After serving the sentence, the youths will still be required to enlist for full-time National Service," observers said.

By joining the national service, the youths can be trained to deter aggression to their country.

During peaceful times, the national servicemen should be ready and capable of conducting a spectrum of operations to protect the national interests and the well-being of Brunei citizens.

Brunei youths, who will enter the national military service, will learn how to handle armory and artillery, and will be trained similar to combat engineers, commandos, signal personnel, infantry, navy and air force soldiers.

These youths, in turn, could save the nation if and when they are needed to protect the country.

Observers said that Brunei has no strategic depth to fall back on when attacked. Therefore, it may be a wise decision for the nation to have a citizen army based on the realities faced by small nations.

"Nothing creates loyalty and national consciousness more speedily and more thoroughly than participation in defence and membership of the armed forces. The national building aspect of defence will be more significant if its participation is spread out over all strata of society. This is possible only with some kind of national service," they said.

Besides enhancing national security, an important "side effect and a bonus" of National Service is the physical and attitudinal development of this country's male population.

The tough physical conditioning and the annual physical test, which Operationally-Ready National Servicemen had to undergo raised the men's overall fitness and health level.

National Service also develops mental discipline, maturity, self-assurance, leadership skills, character and group loyalties. At the national level, National Service also enhances the national consciousness of Bruneians, making us more aware of threats to national survival.

As such, Bruneians must in general accept that a state had to train for war even if it hopes it never had to go to war. By providing national service to all Bruneians, the population will all have a shared experience, which cuts across barriers of wealth, race, religion and education as well as national service can serve as an integrative force in society. (Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin)

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