Two parents have so far asked for a petition to be initiated to stop and review the National service programme. I welcome the idea as I would be the first one to join in the petition.

My daughter was delighted when she was selected but by the third week she was already disgusted with the food served and was more happier with the Maggi mee that we gave her. That was her daily diet for the rest of her stay at the camp in Pahang.

What both the above parents have been saying has been happening since the first month of the exercise. What I would like to see is both these two parents start the ball rolling. Anything a non-Malay initiates is seen through the racial aspect. The Malay parents should start it and I am sure the rest would follow.

A few parents could get together and start the petition signing in a public place. Most of those who do not have children participating always say to give it a chance. Until when? Until after someone dies or is killed?

The first batch of trainees underwent transport problems on their very first day. The second batch had the same problem one month later. Could they not have not improved it? No, it got worse. The first batch were delayed by a few hours. The second batch had to wait till midnight.

News from one camp to another camp travels faster than the authorities care to admit. Hysteria, deplorable food, shortage of food, construction work still on-going with Indonesian workers staying in the same area are just some examples.

TV3 and NTV7 were disallowed entry to these camps. In some of the camps, parents were not allowed to visit the interior while at others they were allowed.

Religious sensitivities were ignored and parents were made to run around till the last minute to get permission to take their children out for religious occasions. Even during the current Holy Week for the Christians last week, directives send by the higher authorities had not been received by camps.

The central authorities say they have allowed parents to collect their children but at the universities they say they have not received any instructions.

I suggest the national service programme be stopped for throughout study and review after which proper guidelines, rules and regulations must be implemented. Is there a manual or a set of directives for the people on the ground? They seem to be as lost as ever.

Why are there clashes between groups of students? This is because of differences and their ignorance of each other which has been allowed to remain uncorrected during their formative years.

What is ingrained in your brain is difficult to be changed within a period of three months. Are there psychologists involved in the programme, or any group of persons who understand each others' race, culture and religon?

I hope the two parents I mentioned above would start the petition and lead the way. You belong to the majority. Lead the way, show the way for your fellow Malaysians. Show us the way. It is in your hands now.