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KUALA TERENGGANU, MALAYSIA, October 2, 2004: The Sri Durga Laksmi Temple here, which will celebrate its kumbhabishegam (consecration ceremony) on October 23, was abuzz with national service trainees lending a hand to spruce it up yesterday. The 36-year-old temple, owned by the private Durga Charitable Trust, caters to 500-plus followers here and is the only Hindu temple in town. Twenty-four trainees, from the Peladang Setiu Agro Resort in Setiu, painted the grille door, swept the compound and carried out other tasks from 10am to 4pm. Kelab India Terengganu adviser Dr. Dayal Krishnan thanked the camp authorities for allowing the Hindu trainees to do community work at the temple. Temple trustee M. Muthulaksmi said the temple was first consecrated in 1968 and the ceremony is carried out every 12 years. “We are spending about US$17,000 to do some renovations and painting work,” she said.



According to a CNN report, Malaysia has introduced compulsory national service for all 18-year-olds beginning in 2004. Under the program, about 400,000 young Malaysians — men and women — will be sent to training camps at any one time and will have to compete basic military drills during a six month stint. Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak, who chairs Malaysia’s national service Cabinet committee, revealed the proposal. “The program will stress on generally accepted universal values, which would be acceptable to all races,” Najib was quoted as saying by Malaysia’s The Star newspaper. The objectives of the national service are to increase flagging patriotism amongst young Malaysians, emphasize racial harmony and mold individuals into better human beings, he said. Najib added that 18 was not too young an age as it was important to “catch them young.” “Once people move on with age, they become firmly rooted in their attitude and beliefs and are difficult to change,” Najib said. Only those deemed medically unfit would be exempted from the universal conscription, while those overseas when called to serve could apply for deferment for a few years.

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