Tales from National Service (PLKN): National Service
Yeah! I got 4 days of holiday during Easter break weeks/months ago (lol I'm blogging in advance). So I had the opportunity to post up the pictures I have taken so far in National Service.
This introductory post is just to clear the air on what National Service is all about. I've got a few queries from you people, asking what it is.
Well, every year the government's computers will randomly select a number of student who have just graduated from high school to join a compulsory army-camp-sorta-thing. The government have yet to obtain enough money to accommodate ALL the high school graduates so currently only those selected will have to go.
What is the purpose of this camp? Well its first and foremost aim is to encourage racial integration. Malaysia consists of many races, so this camp is supposed to 'force' us to mix as we live together. We also have character building class (which is all that psychology thingamajigs-confidence, attidute, etc) and military based training like self defence, weaponry (M16 training!), navigation (so we don't get lost in the jungle) and the one I hate most which is called 'Kawad Kaki' which is that march-in-formation-thing.
This camp lasts for 3 months and our parents can visit on Sundays. Basically our weekends are pretty laidback and we have time to catch up on our sleep. Weekdays are packed with activities from 5.30 am to 11.00 pm.
The trainers here can be described as 'Hulks'. They're alright when you are good, but when they get angry...........you better start running. They're good people though, despite their occational tendancy to overeact to certain situations. You really have to be thick skin here.
So thats about it! Hope you've got a better grasp on what National Service (Program Latihan Khidmat Negara) is right now.
*Just for your info I'm stationed at Kem Paya Indah. Its near the Sepang Wetlands, near the airport. Yup, airplanes fly by every few minutes or so!
This introductory post is just to clear the air on what National Service is all about. I've got a few queries from you people, asking what it is.
Well, every year the government's computers will randomly select a number of student who have just graduated from high school to join a compulsory army-camp-sorta-thing. The government have yet to obtain enough money to accommodate ALL the high school graduates so currently only those selected will have to go.
What is the purpose of this camp? Well its first and foremost aim is to encourage racial integration. Malaysia consists of many races, so this camp is supposed to 'force' us to mix as we live together. We also have character building class (which is all that psychology thingamajigs-confidence, attidute, etc) and military based training like self defence, weaponry (M16 training!), navigation (so we don't get lost in the jungle) and the one I hate most which is called 'Kawad Kaki' which is that march-in-formation-thing.
This camp lasts for 3 months and our parents can visit on Sundays. Basically our weekends are pretty laidback and we have time to catch up on our sleep. Weekdays are packed with activities from 5.30 am to 11.00 pm.
The trainers here can be described as 'Hulks'. They're alright when you are good, but when they get angry...........you better start running. They're good people though, despite their occational tendancy to overeact to certain situations. You really have to be thick skin here.
So thats about it! Hope you've got a better grasp on what National Service (Program Latihan Khidmat Negara) is right now.
*Just for your info I'm stationed at Kem Paya Indah. Its near the Sepang Wetlands, near the airport. Yup, airplanes fly by every few minutes or so!
hey Stanley, not sure whether you'd remember me from kdu, so yea hi. =D
ReplyDeletewas just dropping by your blog and wanted to ask you what camera and lenses u are currently holding? great pictures by the way, your editting style is very lomography-like, awesome stuff.
Yuk yuk yuk! You forgot to say that you guys also get to play lots of sport and that it's more like summer camp then real National Service!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the description, Stanley. I understand it better now. It does sound like a great idea.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the description, Stanley. I understand it better now. It does sound like a great idea.
ReplyDelete