Malaysian National Service - Selection of Conscripts

Selection of Conscripts

In late December 2003, the names of 85,000 conscripts for the first National Service program was made public. The government announced that these youths were randomly selected out of the roughly 450,000 youths born in 1986, through a computerized process. Conscripts are 18 years of age and picked from a national database that includes all citizens registered with a Malaysian ID card, whether born locally or overseas. Conscripts were informed of their participation in the program by mail at the address listed on their identification card. They are also able to check their status on the program's website, or by SMS. Lists of conscripts names and ID numbers are also published in major newspapers.

Deserters and draft dodgers are subject to punishment of a fine of up to but not exceeding RM 3000, and/or up to six months of jail. Deferrals to a later date are allowed. Exclusion from the program requires that the conscript fall under one of the following ten categories:

• Insanity
• Physically disabled
• Currently being held under preventive detention (such as the Internal Security Act)
• Undergoing drug rehabilitation
• Detained by the Children's Act of 2001 (Act 612)
• Fatal disease or condition, as confirmed by a medical officer.
• Contagious disease, as confirmed by a medical officer.
• Full-time member or full-time trainee of the Malaysian Armed Forces, Royal Malaysian Police, Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency or Prisons Department of Malaysia.
• Pregnant women

Non selected civilians are also allowed to volunteer to enter the program after filling out certain forms in camps.