When I first started writing on social and political issues, the deaths of children in the PLKN or National Service was the reason for my “violating” the AUKU.

As a parent, as a citizen and as a Muslim, I could not stand by and read about the deaths of innocent children forced to undergo the National Service.

My daughter, who is now the mother of my three grandchildren, was one of the first batches to be “forced” to undergo the training. Given a choice, I would have said no.

When my youngest son was “forced” to attend the training several years after her sister, I breathed a sigh of relief when the PLKN was placed on hold because there was no money and budget cuts were very severe then.

Then came the pandemic and I had no more worries about my children dying, being maimed, bitten by snakes, being bullied or developing skin diseases from poor water quality.

These were some of the horror stories recalled by many parents when we met to visit our children and those issues that we read on the news.

I wrote many letters in Malaysiakini specifically on the issues of safety as well as the questionable outcome of the idea of nation-building that the National Service seems to crow.

If I were to give a grade for our National Service then, it would be below an “F.”

I have no problems with the idea of “forcing” our children to camps that will instill some sense of responsibility, unity and away from their damn computer games or TikTok. No problem at all. In fact, I welcome it.

What I don’t welcome is the fact that I do not know what the curriculum and exercises or assignments that our children will be forced to undergo.

What I don’t welcome is the 100% military personnel who have no idea or training in supervising young adults like those undergoing Summer Camps.

What I don’t welcome is the proportion of one race bigger than the others.

What I don’t welcome is that I, as a parent, was not allowed to inspect the safety of the exercise equipment like the Flying Fox, or the cleanliness and safety of the tents or the food that they will be eating.

I also especially do not welcome the fact that some “medical officers” have no qualification whatsoever.

I know all these through direct experience of my own child, and so I am not bullshitting anybody.

The most dreaded thing I do not welcome is that when an accident or death occurs, there is no impartial or outside investigation allowed.

We parents have just to take whatever story the “committee” comes up with.

I have read it all. One victim had an accident but died in the hospital. One victim died because he or she had a prior medical condition. And so forth and so forth. It is never, it seems, the camp management’s fault.

I have no problems with the idea of “forcing” our children to PLKN camps provided that the issue of safety and security is placed as utmost importance.

In this country, we Malaysians have to put up with many bad things. We have to put up with a prime minister who robbed the country blind, billions of ringgit of warships undelivered, civil servants acting like they are masters over the rakyat, politicians calling awful names to others of different faiths that till now still not being punished, and a former deputy prime minister kena belasah dalam penjara by none other than the police chief who later had a very nice exit life.

We suffered through all this, but all these atrocities cannot compare to the death of one innocent 18-year-old.

There is no price in ringgit, dignity or compassion that can bring back the lives lost through the PLKN. I draw the line there.

If Anwar Ibrahim’s Unity Government with Mat Hassan as the Minister of Defense wants to resurrect the National Service, I will only give consent if the following requirements will be considered seriously.

Firstly, an independent committee comprising of Malaysians from all races, religions and cultures should oversea the curriculum and methods of training our children.

It would be a great help if the members of this committee are young parents of the age where their children will be “forced” to attend. Please, no Tan Sris or Datuk Seris or Tuns who are old and out of touch with direct parenting.

The committee will be tasked to vet the programs, see through the safety and security issues of our children and manage the investigation of “accidents” or dereliction on the part of the camp management.

The rakyat will hold this committee responsible and the committee will hold the defense ministry responsible.

Secondly, I would like to ask that the curriculum comprise 60% bootcamp training, 20% community engagement and 20% cognitive inputs on the concepts of nation-building and unity. I reject this 90% military and 10% civic learning.

Thirdly, all groups of candidates must be 50% bumiputras and 50% non-bumiputras. Making the percentage reflect our nation’s population would give one race some kind of arrogant supremacist attitude.

Fourthly, the community engagement module should comprise of cleaning and “attending” activities at mosques, temples, gurdwaras and churches.

We have one chance to eliminate this massive barrier of race and religion and the PLKN can be one important impetus.

Fifth and last, that the National Service consider making the parents of the children into the idea of Keluarga Malaysia by having our children spend some weekends at the houses of different faiths and communities.

I do not think the five items are too much to ask for. I did not ask for any millions of extra ringgit!

I am now 61 years old with my youngest becoming 27 this year. All of them escaped the PLKN except the eldest sister. Why should I be concerned anymore?

Well, I have three grandchildren that I do not want to see them forced into a program that I do not declare to be safe and fruitful for nation-building.

As a rakyat, I understand the meaning of dignity and democratic freedom, but I also understand the necessity of being “forced” under certain emergency situation.

Forcing our children is only acceptable if the issue of safety and security is placed as the utmost importance.

If some politicians and cronies want to make money from the camps, I have no problems with that, but our children must not fall victim to any greed, callousness or carelessness.

With the PLKN, we can rebuild the trust between our communities and I welcome that. But make damn sure each and every one of our children comes home safely, with new friends of other faiths and with a new attitude toward the responsibility of a new citizenry.

(Prof Dr. Mohd Tajuddin Mohd Rasdi is Professor of Architecture at a local university and his writing reflects his own personal opinion entirely.)