Patriotic twins who desire disciplined life sign up for national service in Pahang
Ieuseuf Hafiz Mohd Suki, 19, and his twin brother Ieahiea Hasif, who hail from Selangor, signed up for the 45-day programme at 505th Regiment Camp in Sungai Miang here with eagerness to serve their stint.
"I can't wait to go through the jungle training, abseiling lessons and shooting drills at the range. These are the kind of activities usually reserved for security personnel," said Ieuseuf.
Having been involved in outdoor and extreme sports before, he said he had taken a break for some time and saw PLKN as a chance to test both his physical and mental limits.
For Ieahiea, the programme was not just about thrills, but a chance to deepen his love for the country.
"I'm proud to join this programme voluntarily. My brother and I received strong encouragement from our mother, Iswalah Arshad, which gave us even more motivation.
"After this, we plan to pursue our studies. But for now, I'm looking forward to learning new things during this 45-day stint, especially the opportunity to handle firearms," he said.
The twins were among 206 male trainees from across the country who reported for duty at the camp from as early as 8am today, many accompanied by supportive family members.
The camp, which can accommodate up to 350 participants, with more expected to sign up in the coming day or two.
National Service Training Department (JLKM) deputy director-general (Training) Brigadier-General Zainudin Bahari said the participants included those selected for mandatory service as well as volunteers.
He said the programme aimed to instil patriotism, national unity and resilience among Malaysian youth, preparing them for the challenges of life through both physical and mental training.
"This second intake includes 19 participants from Sabah and Sarawak. Some have arrived while the rest will be picked up by JLKM from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
"Those who were called up but failed to attend without valid reasons may face legal action as decided by the courts," he said after inspecting the registration process at the camp.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Focus Malaysia
5 hours ago
- Focus Malaysia
Beyond court orders: Making child support real for Malaysia's children
WHEN Seputeh MP Teresa Kok stood in Parliament to call for a federal Child Support Agency (CSA), I couldn't help thinking: How many more years will mothers have to hold things together on their own before the country finally treats their struggles as urgent? Mothers have already done everything asked of them. They go to court. They file the paperwork. They chase signatures, keep every receipt, and attend every hearing. They wait months, sometimes years for orders that are supposed to make things better. And still, the enforcement is often too slow or too weak to change their day-to-day reality. Just ask Mizah Salleh. In August 2025, her story went viral after she revealed on social media that her ex-husband had failed to pay RM70,750 in child maintenance since November 2020. That figure, RM1,350, a month in arrears doesn't even include the extra costs every parent knows come with school prep, medical needs, or Hari Raya. 'I sacrificed everything,' she wrote, 'but this suffering shouldn't fall on one mother alone.' Thousands of women responded, not with surprise, but with recognition. The numbers show her case is far from unique. According to the 2020 Census, there are 910,091 single mothers in Malaysia, about 8.3% of all households. Only 18% are registered with the Women's Development Department (JPW), leaving most invisible in official systems. Almost 90% of working single mothers are in the B40 income group, and more than half live below the poverty line despite having jobs. This is not just lived experience, it's documented. SIS Forum (Malaysia), through its legal service Telenisa, found in its 2023 Statistics & Findings that 42% of all legal aid consultations were about child maintenance. Nearly half of those cases involved fathers who refused to pay outright; a quarter cited unemployment; some openly defied court orders, knowing enforcement was weak. In its Hak Kewangan study, SIS documented maintenance orders as low as RM150 for two school-going children, sums far below actual costs. And this isn't a new fight. SIS has been calling for a federal Child Support Agency since 2005, urging a system that could assess realistic payment amounts, trace absent parents, deduct from wages, seize assets, and suspend passports or licences for persistent defaulters. This can work but it needs political will. In Australia, compliance rose from 25% under court orders to over 70% under a CSA, with 90% of arrears collected. In the UK, DWP/IFF research found most separated families established new arrangements within months of their old cases closing, and those backed by strong enforcement lasted longer. The difference wasn't that mothers tried harder, they already were, but that the system finally did its part. A Malaysian CSA could be tailored to our reality: One national standard so Syariah and civil orders are enforced equally across states; Automatic deductions from salaries or bank accounts, without waiting for non-payment first; Realistic assessments based on current cost-of-living data; and A humane approach for genuine hardship, ensuring children are supported even when payers are struggling. None of this is abstract. It's the difference between a child eating lunch in the canteen every day and one who quietly skips meals. It's about replacing the anxiety of chasing payments with the certainty of knowing they will arrive. It's about ending the years of uncertainty, repeated court visits, and the weary knowledge that, in the end, too many mothers are left to shoulder the cost of raising children alone. So what more must mothers do before this becomes a national priority? Must we speak publicly about the private pain of juggling bills and court dates? Must we wait until another generation of children grow up without the care they deserve? Or is it enough that for decades, women and groups like SIS, have been documenting, advocating, and proposing solutions, only to see the burden remain largely on the mothers' shoulders? Kok's proposal felt like someone in power had finally heard what mothers, advocates, and researchers have been saying for years: that child maintenance should be a guaranteed right, not a gamble. It's time for Malaysia to stop waiting for mothers to prove, yet again, that the need is real. ‒ Aug 19, 2025 Ameena Siddiqi is the Communications Manager at SIS Forum (Malaysia). The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia. Main image: Freepik
Borneo Post
7 hours ago
- Borneo Post
Patriotic flag mission reaches new heights at Mount Kinabalu
KMJG participants taking a photo with Mount Kinabalu in the background. – Information Department photo KUNDASANG (Aug 19): The Kembara Merdeka Jalur Gemilang (KMJG) in collaboration with Sabah Parks made history by planting the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) and the Sabah flag at the peak of Mount Kinabalu. Sabah Information Director Jainisah Mohd Noor said the event aimed to further invigorate the National Month celebrations in Sabah this year. 'This morning, KMJG made history once again by presenting the Jalur Gemilang and the Sabah flag to mountain guides to be carried and planted at the Peak of Mount Kinabalu. 'We carried this out in collaboration with Sabah Parks to manifest the national spirit and as one of our ways to enliven this year's National Month celebration in Sabah,' she stated during the handover of the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flag to mountain guides at Kinabalu Park on Tuesday. A total of 35 mountain guides were involved in carrying the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flag to be planted at the peak of Mount Kinabalu. According to Jainisah, special edition KMJG postcards were also mailed via the Panalaban post box. 'Alongside that, we also mailed special KMJG postcards via the highest postbox in Malaysia, located at Panalaban. This will also be facilitated by the mountain guides as our strategic partners. 'We hope this fervent spirit of celebrating National Day will remain steadfast and strong like Mount Kinabalu,' she explained. Jainisah, who is also the KMJG convoy leader, did not rule out the possibility that convoy participants themselves would one day plant the Jalur Gemilang at Kinabalu Peak. 'We will try. This year we certainly don't have time, but next year if we have the opportunity, can collaborate again with Sabah Parks or any other department or agency, including private companies, to climb Mount Kinabalu together. 'We ourselves will plant the Jalur Gemilang and Sabah flags, and perhaps we will also send special postcards once again to local leaders and top management. 'That would also later serve as proof that the convoy itself has conquered Mount Kinabalu, symbolizing our spirit, our patriotism, and our love for our country,' she said.
Barnama
14 hours ago
- Barnama
Widow Keeps Husband's Legacy Alive By Flying The Jalur Gemilang
By Habsah Ismail KOTA BHARU, Aug 19 (Bernama) -- For most people, the Jalur Gemilang, proudly flown every August, is a symbol of love for the homeland. But for one elderly woman, every flag raised around her home carries a far deeper meaning. For Tuan Yah Tuan Yeh, 66, the red, white, blue, and yellow of the national flag not only represent her pride as a Malaysian but also embody the struggle and sacrifice of her late husband, Zahari Abdullah, who once stood as the nation's shield against the communist threat. She recalled that for more than a decade, her husband, who served 13 years in the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), was among the busiest people in Kampung Kubang Bongor, Melor, during the national month. He would tirelessly search for bamboo or wood to make flagpoles to fly the Jalur Gemilang. 'Every year, before August 31, my late husband would begin decorating our house, the padi fields, and the farm with the Jalur Gemilang. He even hung independence-themed banners until Sept 16 to create a festive atmosphere in the village. 'Although he had to spend about RM600 from his own pocket to buy more than 500 flags of various sizes to decorate the fields and our home, he never once complained. 'Three years ago, he even built replica cannons and traditional moon kites from recycled materials, decorated them with the Jalur Gemilang, and placed them near the padi fields and quail pens — all to reignite the spirit of independence,' she told Bernama when met at her home recently. However, since last year, the arrival of August has never been the same. Her husband passed away mid-year after a fall at home, leaving behind cherished memories and an unbroken legacy of patriotism. Determined not to let her husband's spirit be buried with him, this year Tuan Yah — a former nurse at the 1Malaysia Clinic in Jelawat, Bachok — has taken on the responsibility of continuing his efforts to spark patriotism in the village.
