Jane Lim May Get Exempted From National Service

There is a silver lining for Jane Lim's parents who are reluctant to release her for her National Service training stint following the death of her brother (Ricky, who passed away

Tiki Lafe, the newly-appointed National Service Training Council chairman has promised to look into her case on compassionate grounds and out of respect for Jane Lim's parents.

Previously, NS Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil had said that Ricky’s death was not a valid reason for Jane to seek exemption. shortly after completing his NS stint).

Your Ad Here

From TheStar

New NS chief gives Jane hope

PUTRAJAYA: There’s fresh hope for 17-year-old Jane Lim, whose parents do not want her to attend camp following the death of her brother days after returning from his NS stint.

Newly-appointed National Service Training Council chairman Datuk Dr Tiki Lafe has promised to look into her case.

Dr Tiki, who is also Mas Gading MP and was a member of the Cabinet Committee on National Service when he was a deputy minister, said in his personal view that the “wishes of her parents should be respected.”

“Personally, I think her case deserves support and we need to look into the matter based on compassionate grounds and her family background.

“I think the wishes of her parents should be respected. So, I will look into the matter,” he said in an interview here yesterday.

Dr Tiki was commenting on Lim, who is seeking exemption from NS duty after her parents objected, saying that they would not let their only surviving child go for training following her brother Ricky’s death.

Ricky, 20, died on Sept 15 after completing his three-month national service at the Lagenda Gunung Ledang Asahan camp on Sept 6.

However, NS Department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil had said Lim would have to attend training because her brother’s death was not a valid reason for exemption.

Dr Tiki said that if Lim did not want to attend the camp, the council could easily find another 100 students to take her place.

“This is because we all know that for every one person who gets called to attend NS training, there are another 100 people who want to go but don’t get the chance.”

On taking over from previous chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Dr Tiki said he would be chairing his first council meeting at the NS headquarters after the Hari Raya celebrations on Oct 7.

Asked if he had any plans for the development of the programme, which is participated by some 100,000 youths each year, Dr Tiki said: “Yes, I have my plans but I also have to look at what the council has already planned for.”

Lee, who is also the Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman, called on the police and the public to work together to fight crime.

In light of the recent high-profile crime cases in Penang, he said the police should recruit more personnel and step up their efforts with the help of the public and the Government, especially policy makers.