National Service Water Modules Will Resume

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) -- All water based training at National Service Training Camps nationwide will be resumed in the near future said Defence Minister Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. The modules were suspended following the death of 18-year-old trainee R.Vinoth at the Terkok camp in Sungai Siput, Perak on March 12, suspected to have been caused by Leptospirosis. The camp operators have been requested to build proper swimming pools according to the National Service Training Department's (JLKN) specifications to maintain hygienic conditions, he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the department and Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) here on Friday. The MoU was signed by JLKN director-general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil and UPSI vice-chancellor Dr Zakaria Kasa. He said Vinoth's death was not caused by the disease and Perak Health Department testing also confirmed the pond at the Terkok camp to be free of the Leptospira bacteria. Meanwhile, Zahid said the MoU was aimed at creating a collaboration between the two organisations and to explore, among others, the possibility of certifying the national service programme trainers. -- BERNAMA