Food in NS camps

[jand]

I had a call from my brother in NS and he asked more tinned biscuits be sent to him and me being the KPC fella asked him how did he finished the biscuits sent to him previously so quickly.

Seems like he's in a bit of a bind there as they have beef only meals on some days with no alternatives in the menu and my brother does not take beef due to his religious belief.

Okaaay, now here's the beef (no pun intended), did somebody in this negara yang berbilang kaum yang menganuti pelbagai agama forgotten that there are dietary needs for the many races here?

I asked him to speak to his camp commander which he replied he already did but nevertheless, asked him to do so again and mention his religious needs. If the camp commander insists there is nothing he can do, get a written letter from him stating so this matter can be further pursued down here.

After some consideration, I decided it best not to draw an analogy of the dietary needs of our fellow countrymen as it may be inflammatory.

[sinleong]

maybe you should send your brother some bak kut teh and see what happens..

[pcyeoh]

I was at Kem Setia Ikhlas in Semenyih last Saturday since it is a special visitation day being Hari Korban. Most of the Muslim trainees balik kampung and those remained behind were mostly Chinese and Indians. There were some Malays and indegenious trainees from East Malaysia who due to the high cost of travelling chose to stay back.

We brought along sushi for my daughter who had a craving for it and looking at the food served here, I wouldn't be surprised if she craved for Maggi Mee. I told her to grab the food even though she was eating suchi so that I would have the opportunity to taste it. What I saw in front of me is shocking. What they got for that day is plain fried fish - the 5 inch kembong, long beans (not even fried in sambal belanchan hey bee (fried dried prawn) and one salted egg! The kurma curry was pure gravy. I was searching high and low for some chicken meat or even other vegetables to go with it. This is what they called lunch on Hari Korban and served COLD. Can't they think of delighting those 80 trainees who stayed behind to feast on something especially it was an auspicious day? I would have snapped a photo to show you how 'palatable' the food was if I have brought along my camera. Next time I shall and if possible capture the aroma as well. By the way, the government is paying the contractor of Khidmat Negara about RM 45.00 per day for everything and this is what our poor kid got EVERYDAY. I pity the non Malays as many just couldn't eat this stuff. I talked to some and they said dejectedly the same thing, "Uncle (Ahem), what to do. Complaint also no use and don't eat, eat what then. Got to get use to it lah."

[tupai]

anyone know what malaysian army food taste like?
If its the samo-samo as NS, then so be it. Maybe we have pamper our children and turning them into gourmet softies long enough...

otherwise,
1) create a ruckus like getting a DAP guy to expose this food 'scandal' (start from tender to award to supply to feed at camps)
2) recommend that NS trainees are allow to cook their own food (cooking is a marketable skill) in a halal & non-halal section?
3) ?? i don't know...my kid is too young to go now but I am for this NS thingy. And she will get the chance to go for it when she is of age.


tupai

[pcyeoh]

Frankly speaking, those who are chosen for khidmat negara should thank their lucky star. Even my daughter who was initially cursing and swearing when she was chosen is singing a different tune now. The program itself is good - 6 meals a day and opportunity to make new friends from everywhere, no mother to nag you and father to pamper you. At the end of which you are given an allowance of RM 300.00. In fact, you have a life of your own during this 90 days period. This thing that irks people is the manner the contracts are given out to the contractors. It works out to averagely RM 4,800 per trainee every year when it should be getting cheaper as ROI would have been achieved during Year 1. As if tak cukup, they are getting to be more greedy. They went 100% selection. But can the country afford it for this cash crop that get harvested every 90 days.?

[cskok8]

RM 45 a day for food!!! I am sure I can get a hotel to cater at that price on a long-term basis.

[pcyeoh]

The RM 45 is the average cost per day to maintain a NS trainee. This includes the food, camp facilities and the program proper. It is not food alone. I do not expect sumptious food to be laid on the table everyday. But what I saw if that is what they are getting evryday without much variation, then I symphatise with the trainees. If we conduct a poll on the food, I won't be surprised if it gets poor rating. But then again, one man's meat is another man's poison. If one comes from a poor family, then one would not have any complaint about the food. But I hope the contractors are not cutting cost or maximising profit at the expense of nutrition for growing up teenagers.

[tupai]

there are families so deprived that their one-meal a day is a gourmet fried ikan selar, salt and home grown tapoica leaves with plain rice. This delicately fried selar is shared by 2 adults and 3 growing kids...

tupai

p/s yes, they do not even have soya sauce.

[jand]

My intent was to highlight not the gastronomic delights in NS camps but rather their poor judgement and lack of foresight and hindsight in food catering.

What if this situation was in Singapore and they serve pork to all trainees and you either take it or starve? It's a poor comparison as their NS is more a military camp so it's more of a survival training but our NS is a summer camp hence more leeway is expected.
If that happened, I'm pretty sure that our local PAS, pemuda/datuk UMNo will cry bloody murder.

All I'm asking for is just a little more sensitivity to 'Others' and not just look inwardly to the needs of the 'Majority' only.

It's high time to move from our tolerant society to one based on acceptance else we'll never see Bangsa Malaysia.

[muscfair]

I think the authorities should be sensitive to the feelings of all races.

Beef is definitely taboo to the indians and vegetarians.

It defeats the whole purpose of racial integration when the authorities only
caters to one race.

[pcyeoh]

As far as I know and was even given the assurance that no beef will be served at the Khidmat Negara. I will appreciate that you name the camp that serves beef and I will bring it up as a issue with khidmat negara with the assistance of our MP for Kelana Jaya YB Loh. Incidentally, YB Loh has been assigned by MCA to look into the NS Training Program to take care of our interest. I have brought up to his attention the many things that were not right which I am unable to disclose here for fear that my daughter would be victimised. You can sms me (012-2995330) the name of the camp and it will remain confidential here.

[ng]

Quite a significant number of chinese do not eat beef too.

But then why is it that I see a lot of chinese going to mcdonald and eating hamburger ? Or are they not aware that these are beefs?

[xweird]

Quite a significant number of chinese do not eat beef too.

But then why is it that I see a lot of chinese going to mcdonald and eating hamburger ? Or are they not aware that these are beefs?

my dad prays to kuan yin, so he doesn't eat beef.

me, on the other hand, will not pass up the opportunity to sample the delicious prosperity burger

[balitan]

what do you expect with mass cooking ??

what is the level of cleanliness of the food and drinks ??

not surprising that you can expect mass diarrhoea and vomitting too !!

pandai-pandai jagalah !!

[sly]

Quite a significant number of chinese do not eat beef too.

But then why is it that I see a lot of chinese going to mcdonald and eating hamburger ? Or are they not aware that these are beefs?

ng..u mean prosperity burger is it? what remember is last year they have it in chicken meat too, right? for me i knew that some ppl go for the prosperity meal just to collect that 14 chinese zodiac soft toys. *hint*