BANDAR JENGKA: National Service (NS) trainees from the Chinese community were given four days off to celebrate the Hungry Ghost Festival with their families last week.

However, a handful of them have failed to return to their camps and are now facing legal action for this.

"They were supposed to have come back on Friday, but some have opted to extend their leave or went missing without our permission.

"All camp commandants have been asked to lodge a police report and submit their names to the police," said NS Training Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil.

"They should have been grateful that we allowed them to go home."
Speaking after a visit to the Indera Pahlawan NS camp in Jengka 6 here, Abdul Hadi warned the missing trainees that they risked facing action similar to that meted out to NS dodgers.

If found guilty, they can be sentenced to a maximum of three months' jail or RM6,000 fine.

"They cannot run away as we are now compiling their names," he said, adding that all 82 camps were expected to submit a report on the matter this week.

Abdul Hadi said the trainees should not have left their programme halfway as they would have completed their stint next month.



Addressing a different issue, Abdul Hadi said that all 5,000 NS trainers would be offered contractual positions under the department from now on.

Those who accept the offer would have to sign a two-year contract and enjoy the benefits under the government's N12-N27 salary scale.

The trainers are expected to earn between RM1,300 and RM1,800 monthly.