I am compelled to disagree with some of the comments in Petrof's Simple reasons for national service .

Firstly, I would like to say that the MIG-29 does not cost US$100 million  it is survival that is at stake here, but it is political survival not national survival.

I think the BN has more pressing concerns at its present rate of decline than the threat posed by Singapore as it may be removed from government and be consigned to history in the not too distant future.

The threat posed by Singapore is nothing new and has existed for years, if not decades. It can be countered by greater investment in hardware, logistics, better training, and integration of the various branches of the armed forces, all of which are not manpower intensive, which begs the questions: Why national service? Why now? Why not before?

The answer is simple, indoctrination and political survival. BN and Umno in particular know that unless they do something radical, or reform, their days are numbered. Since reform is highly unlikely, national service allows them to indoctrinate the young and impressionable who presently are joining the opposition in droves.

National service is just one more attempt by the BN government to stop the tide of the opposition and to keep itself in power.