17 September 2012 | last updated at 12:13AM
PTD drowns during training
BITTER ENDING. Training programme for future diplomatic and administrative officer turns into a tragedy.
PEKAN: A 35-year-old diplomatic and administrative officer (PTD) trainee drowned during a water confidence training at the Force 136 Camp of the Territorial Army Regiment 505 at Sungai Miang here yesterday afternoon.
Aidy Hasni Abu Hassan, from Kuala Lumpur was attempting to cross a irrigation canal using a rope about 2.30pm when he suddenly lost his grip and submerged into the water which was about six metres deep.
Point to ponder from my ' once in the blue moon' guest writer. Terima kasih kerana benarkan tertulis di sini. Thank you Kapten Malaysia!!!
To my Comrades
In certain parts of the world, the civil service is defined as the administrators in the executive body of a country. In Malaysia, as in Arcticle 132 of the Constitution defines the executive body consisting of the judiciary, administrators, teachers, police, public health personnel (to a certain extent) and armed forces to name a few major groups. This is just a background story.
In light of the recent death of Aldy Hasni Abu Hasan as a result of drowning during a training exercise, focus has been brought upon the civil service and its training methods. Studies have found that burial processions are supposed to be more for psychological reasons than religious. It is a procession where family and friends say farewell to the departed, to pay their last respects and to bring some form of closure to the loved ones.
However, the psychological effect only applies to the "natural and timely" deaths. In the case of Aldy Hasni, his drowning was an untimely and sudden death. As in all untimely and sudden deaths, it brings about more questions than answers could provide. There is anger, there is shock, there is disbelief. Everyone tries to make sense of what happened. There are many diverse reactions - there are those wanting to know why it happened, how it happened, whom to blame. This is a natural course of reactions as human try to bring closure to such tragic events and we cannot avoid such reactions.
As to why it happened. I believe that people accepts that it is God's will and the natural order of life. There are no two ways about it. We live and we die. The only difference is time - when do we leave this world.
As to how can this happen during a training exercise. This is for investigators to perform their duties and provide information.
As to whom is to blame. I personally never liked this question as i believe everyone is to be blamed. So i will not go there.
The other question and probably my point to this whole thing is the question of why should Malaysia's administrative corp require forms of military exercise. It is ludicrous to the common sense doesnt it. Malaysia is a blessed peaceful and properous nation. This is the argument that i read and found very common in the newspapers, blogs and social media.
To answer this, one point has to be made very clear - no one in their right psychological mind wants another person to die. On to the point, one has to take into account that the job scope of administrators is to administer the government machinery regardless of time. This means that the government has to function whether there is rain or shine, peace or war. This means that whatever time of day or night, there must be a functioning government. There must be security, there must be schools, there must be health care, there must be public infrastructure etc. Even in war torn countries with despot leaders there is a functioning government that runs all these services. The administrators must be prepared for all eventualities. For example, The National Security Council (MKN) has ruling 20, 21 for emergency situations for natural disasters like flood, famine etc. The ones that coordinates are the administrators and they have the power to administer. The administrators are provided legal power during an emergency or natural disaster. The administrators must be in the middle of the situation providing administrative leadership. In times of war, when all shops closes down, when people are asked to stay in their homes..army/police trucks will bring adminsitrators to their offices to do their jobs. Just because Malaysia is peaceful and prosperous, does not mean that administrators should not prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Training with the army, police and fire brigade allows the administrator a practical insight into what the army, police and fire brigade does. The familiarisation of these services would enhance the administrators decision making in an emergency. Hence, the need for some form of military training. Btw, for those who knows me, do i really look like Captain Malaysia? So dont be worried that Malaysia's administrators being war mongers and trained to be one. I dont look like one. We are just trained to be familiarised with certain aspects of security for the purpose of being prepared during an emergency.
The points that i make should not take away that a life has been lost and that we should make a point to learn from the lessons of Aldy Hasni's untimely death. I wish his family well, i hope that his family is taken care of, and i hope that some form of counselling in provided to the other trainees who are affected by his death from Unit Psikologi dan Kaunseling JPA.
