Boot-camp program bridges ethnic divisions<\/p>\n
Sean Yoong, Associated Press, Rembau, Malaysia<\/p>\n
Striving to shed old ethnic and cultural divisions, Malaysia is
\nconscripting its young into a boot-camp-style national service
\nprogram designed to cultivate patriotism, discipline and,
\nespecially, tolerance.<\/p>\n
But the early going has been marred by clashes among the
\n85,000 young men and women randomly drafted for the first class.<\/p>\n
Ng Han Shen, an 17-year-old ethnic Chinese conscript, recently
\nshowed off a stitched cut at the back of his head, just hours
\nafter more than 30 Malay teenagers at his training camp battered
\nhim with fists and metal chairs. \"They thought I had been rude to
\none of them,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The fight testified to the ethnic divisions that led the
\ngovernment to devise the nonmilitary training program, which is
\naimed at helping this fast-developing Southeast Asian country
\nfind a peaceful, modern and increasingly middle class identity.<\/p>\n
The first group of 85,000 was selected by computer -- out of
\nnearly a half million 17- and 18-year-olds -- for three months of
\ncommunity service, patriotism classes and physical training.<\/p>\n
Officials hope the program will forge multiracial
\nunderstanding by bringing teenagers from different backgrounds
\nand cultures together in dozens of jungle camps set up across
\nMalaysia.<\/p>\n
Many of the draftees came out of ethnic-based schools that
\nafforded them little opportunity to make friends of other races.<\/p>\n
While such young people can end up working in racially mixed
\noffices, there often is little inclination for ethnic
\ninteractions, even though most Malaysians pride themselves on
\nethnic tolerance and relations are generally amicable.<\/p>\n
Nearly two-thirds of Malaysia's 25 million people are ethnic
\nMalay Muslims, and there are large ethnic Chinese and Indian
\ncommunities that practice Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity.<\/p>\n
Historically, Malays have dominated the country's politics
\nwhile Chinese are considered the backbone of commerce and Indians
\nare numerous in retailing and laboring -- though the divisions
\nare becoming increasingly blurred.<\/p>\n
In the national service camps, recruits from every race train
\ntogether and share tents that each comprise roughly six Malays,
\nthree Chinese and an Indian -- a microcosm of the national
\npopulation. They share the same meals, typically consisting of
\nrice, chicken or fish curry and vegetables -- but no pork, which
\nis forbidden under Islam.<\/p>\n
Training ranges from marching, unarmed combat and emergency
\nfirst aid to classes in which recruits discuss Malaysia's future,
\nthe need for racial integration and how to guard against
\nterrorists and illegal immigrants. Trainees can leave the camp
\nfor religious festivals and weekly rites at nearby mosques,
\ntemples and churches.<\/p>\n
\"I'm learning to become a responsible Malaysian who
\nappreciates the importance of national harmony,\" draftee Amir
\nHamzah Mohamad Yusoff said after a role-playing class during
\nwhich trainees pretended they were Cabinet ministers and mapped
\nout new policies to bring ethnic groups closer.<\/p>\n
The first recruits began training in February. Fresh out of
\nhigh school, some draftees -- and parents -- grumbled because
\nthey were forced to postpone vacations, jobs and college plans.<\/p>\n
Since then, disciplinary headaches -- sometimes apparently
\nlinked to racial rivalries, though the government denies it --
\nhave infected numerous camps, prompting some parents and
\nopposition politicians to call for suspending the 500 million
\nringgit (US$132 million) project.<\/p>\n
Defense Minister Najib Abdul Razak insists the program isn't a
\nfailure. He argues the troubles stem from a tiny minority who are
\n\"a reflection of the problems in our society\".<\/p>\n
\"You cannot expect everyone to be angels,\" Najib said. \"We
\nmust expect problems in a program of this magnitude. I hope
\npeople will understand that we're making an important attempt to
\nproduce better citizens.\"<\/p>\n
Many instructors think trainees are just frustrated with a
\nregimen that stretches from dawn to dusk, causing tempers to
\nflare whenever someone jumps the cafeteria line, cheats on the
\nsoccer field or makes an insensitive racial remark.<\/p>\n
\"There are fights almost every night,\" said Nizam Mohamad Isa,
\na trainer at a camp on the outskirts of the capital, Kuala
\nLumpur. \"Some of the recruits are restless because they feel like
\nthey're living in a prison where there is not much freedom.\"<\/p>\n
Army reservists have been sent to some camps to help with
\nproblems, while hundreds of mischief-makers are being reassigned
\nto a center with stiffer discipline.<\/p>\n
Some conscripts say that despite the flaws, it has been a
\nworthwhile experience.<\/p>\n
\"I've discovered how much I enjoy having new Malay friends,\"
\nsaid Vimalkumar Sugumaran, an ethnic Indian. \"There will always
\nbe people who want to create trouble because they refuse to get
\nalong, but unless the rest of us try to mix, then we will always
\nbe a divided country.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/boot-camp-program-bridges-ethnic-divisions-1447893297",
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"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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