Najib: Take sick trainees to hospital promptly

NST: KUALA LUMPUR: The National Service Training Department has been instructed to adopt a "better safe than sorry" approach on sick trainees.
Camp commandants had been told to take all ill trainees to hospital, regardless of how minor or trivial their complaint might seem, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said.
Najib briefed the 85 commandants from around the country on the new approach at a meeting yesterday.
Also in attendance were department director-general Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil, National Service Training Council chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye and the military service chiefs.
Najib said the national service programme was sensitive because parents were placing their trust in the government to take good care of their children.
"If they get sick, they must be taken to the hospital as soon as possible. It's okay even if it is just a minor problem like a fever as it is better to be safe than sorry."
He said there was no change in policy per se, but that camp authorities needed to be more proactive in carrying out their duties.
He said the government was driving for zero deaths in the programme.
"Although not all deaths were caused by problems in the camp as there were those who died during holidays and those who had illnesses before going to the camp, there's no denying that there have been a few incidents that could have been avoided."