If the recent flood in KL was not depressing enough, we are now coming face to face with another distressing news - compulsory national service for our youth.

With the government having blown hot and cold over this since last November, I thought the proposed project would never take off.

It will incur huge amount of public funds, while the purported benefits are far from clear. How sure are we that - after going through a three-month training stint - the selected youth will be more patriotic and free from 'social ills'?

If indeed the scheme is an effective remedy, why was the entire project shrouded in secrecy, with its modus operandi being known only to the Defence Minister?

What was the role of our Education Ministry in this 'noble' endeavour? Why weren't schools and parents-teachers' associations not consulted as well?

What worries parents most is the safety of te children selected for training. Why can't the authority make the entire curriculum of the scheme more transparent?

What about issues like insurance coverage for the participants, attention to basic needs, food and lodging, emotional support and communications with family during the three-month period?

I am sure many concerned parents are anxious to have these questions answered before sending their teenagers out to the wilderness. Instead of being given a clear understanding of the details, we are only told about the potential penalty for not participating.

This is certainly not a very encouraging start. Can someone enlighten us, please?