PLKN...

We finally visited our boy at his boot camp - PLKN! But I wouldn't say his boot camp is really uncomfortable. Hall has aircon; where very often they go fishing... (sleep while the lectures are on). And his campsite is actually part of a resort in an orchard, of course theirs is the 'downgraded' area! His living quarters is livable, in fact it would be considered luxury for the poor... though he complains about the 'communal' bathing.... but I think if put a Mat Salleh or city slicker (with a predisposition for adventure) there, he'd probably think of it as quaint.

With 6 meals a day, enforced exercise thrown in and some pocket money at the end of the month, I'd actually have to say this does have its good points. From what I've heard from him, his meals aren't too bad. In some other camps, it seems food is not good. It's very dependent on the admin of each site... Money paid is the same. It's up to the commandants to see to it that the kids are not shortchanged. And also whether there is accountability...

It was quite festive as many parents had come for the weekend visit. Some even cooked a feast for picnics under the trees! For the privileged kids, this might seem like 'torture' - aircon to no aircon, hot shower to communal bathing, perpetual battle with the humidity, hours of marching under the sun, etc, etc.... For some of the unprivileged kids, this is actually better than what they're used to. I've met some from the latter group who told me they wish they can go again.

At home I have to chase him to fold his blanket, eat his meals, keep (wash) his shoes, put his clothes properly, wake up... the list is actually endless. There, he is concerned about his shoes being polished, not argue when instructions are given, answer to roll calls even in the middle of the night and not kick up a fuss, learn to take care of himself, bear with the heat and 'discomfort'....

As parents we worry lots about his safety, in that we're no different from many parents. News of tragic tales also add weight to those worries. He was down with a bout of flu recently... we were worried; what with the Influenza-like illness (ILI) concerns now. But he's 'forced' to do lots of things which he will not do at home.... of compliance and some discipline. Plus he learns to get along with the others, especially from the other races, be exposed to some of the vices of kids his age, decides for himself whether to steer clear. But I can also see that PLKN can actually be good if carried out to the spirit of its founding principles. But like many things around us, implementation very often is fraught with human shortcomings.

Many parents 'buy' their children's way out via placement in private colleges. I wonder whether anyone has statistics of those people who defer because of college. Private colleges probably earn more from such kids too. I am tempted too in those moments when I kesian him...

But it just doesn't feel right to bail him out. We seem to be abetting them for the wrong reasons. Boys should also be toughened by outdoor activities. Too many boys behave and look like girls now. By buying their kids' way out, parents are also showing their kids that everything has a price... you can buy your way out of anything. It's okay to shirk. If you don't like something, pay your way out... the rich still gets the upper hand.

We have other concerns as well, like the rumour going around that they have to finish the PLKN even after F6 starts. That's not fair as those who cabut to private colleges got their deferment. The authorities should chase down those defer... and make them go, at least if not all then a good part of it. In this, if the F6 rumour is true, it's not fair.

Our boy is more tanned after 2 weeks... last weekend he was home for Easter. But at this point, he still cannot get out...