Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan

Dato’ Abu Bakar AbdullahThe Defence Ministry will continue to improve the National Serviceprogramme, which is designed to develop the country through itsyoungsters.AN Italian proverb reads: “Wealth conquered Rome after Rome had conqueredthe world”. Rome was not built in a day. It was built on a foundation to last, toinspire, to conquer. We know this from those who have visited it. We know it fromthe many movies made of and in Rome. We also know this from literature writtenabout Rome. It took hundreds of years before a shining kingdom was built. LikeRome, Malaysia needs to go through its motions to build its strength, substanceand durable brand.The essence to our strength is in our unity.Unity drives national development as well asdevelopment of future leaders. Unity imbuesthe spirit of patriotism in us. It is based onthis vision that the Government started theNational Service (NS) programme.It was conceived from a vision to strengthenthe spirit of patriotism and unity in thehearts and minds of Malaysian youth.A continuation of our 11 years of schooling,the three-month intensive programme isdesigned to institute the will to make it,irrespective of colour, race, religion, gender,creed and the odds.In facing the fast and furious lanes ofglobalisation, Malaysia needs its generationsY and Z to stand sentinel to the nation’ssovereignty and safety. It is thus incumbentupon the country to prepare our youth toface the moving targets of globalisation.In facing the fastand furious lanes ofglobalisation, Malaysianeeds its generations Yand Z to stand sentinel tothe nation’s sovereigntyand safety. It is thusincumbent upon thecountry to prepare ouryouth to face the movingtargets of globalisation.It is our moral duty to strengthen our future leaders with the tools of resilienceand perseverance. This thus became the basis of National Service’s virtues.Our youth constitute 60% of the Malaysian population today. Their talents andenergies thus are pivotal and integral to the future of Malaysia. In the final analysis,NS is envisioned to develop young patriotic leaders able to assimilate and integratein a multi-racial society locally and globally. The training drives the integration of thevarious races and their essential and unique roles in nation-building. NS focuses and85