Currently there are two public controversies. The first is the rising crime rate and the shortage of police manpower in the policing sector, which the government sought to address by recruiting another 23,000 police personnel over five years at considerable costs.

It has however been criticised that an increase in quantity is not synonymous with increase in quality with respect to the police force of which certain sectors are mired in incompetence and corruption.

The second is the national service training programme that is criticised by DAP National Chairman Lim Kit Siang as a half-baked and poorly-thought-out proposal.

For one thing, it is unpopular because induction to the programme is by coercion of law rather than voluntary motivated by patriotism. For another, it is for a wrong purpose. National service is for national defence not national unity.

The country faces no imminent external threat of territorial aggression from any of its neighbours. The threat is domestic and internal that of terrorism from extremist and subversive elements within our borders to which police resources have been channelled, which otherwise could be deployed in sectors shorthanded in combatting crime.

Besides, the national service training programme originally contemplated for all the 480,000 18-year-old youths for a six-month stint would cost astronomical sums of some RM5-6 billion, which is why it was proposed to be cut down to a three-month training for 100,000 or some 20 percent of the 18-year-old youths, still costing some RM500 million.

It suggested here that these two issues could be addressed simultaneously in a complementary fashion. Instead of using the national service training programme for induction into the military, the government could induct the youths into the police force for training and deployment in the crime sector.

Recruits of all races also get to mix in promotion of the objective of national unity. They also get the same training in discipline, laws and use of firearms.

In this way, the shorthanded problem of the police force could be addressed. The budget of RM500 million can be used to address both problems of combatting crime and national service at the same time. Instead of two sets of costs, there is only one.

In the absence of an external threat, no patriotism would be fostered if induction into national service were by coercion of law. The national service programme should therefore be voluntary.

To which the next question is what is the 'carrot' for the youths to volunteer to do national service within the police force? I assume that volunteers accepted would first have to be those who meet the minimum academic performance requirements for places within local tertiary educational institutions and universities.

The incentive provided to volunteers of national service within the police force will take the form of their being given first preference irrespective of race - the places in these institutions and universities with the better amongst them up to (say) 40 per ent being awarded state scholarships for courses in these tertiary educational establishments.

'Police scholars' may choose to study criminal justice and law enforcement or may pursue degrees in other fields. Men and women of all races and ethnic backgrounds are eligible, regardless of family income or resources.

In exchange for preferential places in tertiary institutions all volunteers will have to do a six to eight month stint with the police force prior to their studies.

During the 6-8 month stint, volunteers should be trained on the requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes essential to serve effectively on community patrol, to develop the physical, moral and analytical capabilities and to be taught self-discipline and organisational loyalty.

The training will place special emphasis on leadership, integrity, effective communication, understanding of social context, problem solving in multi-cultural settings, and commitment to the principles embodied in the Rukunegara, including respect for the dignity of all people just as in the army.

In respect of those awarded police scholarships, they will, by contract, have to serve the police force full time for the period of one year after graduation, and thereafter, where needed, to be recalled at any time on community patrol in after work time for another two years.

Dependent children or parents of those who are killed in the line of duty ought to be automatically eligible for tertiary scholarships in the future.

It is the intention that younger and more qualified recruits are brought into the police force to inculcate better values, attitudes, procedures and standards amongst existing personnel and not the other way around to be influenced by the undesirable attitude of the existing corps.

It is hoped that the infusion of younger recruits with better academic qualifications into the police force via this voluntary national police service programme will not only achieve the objectives for which national service sets itself to do but also, in the process, beef up both, in quantitative and qualitative terms, the present police force level in its combat against rising crime.

It is hoped that, in principle, the twin controversies relating first to the problem of rising crime and insufficient police resources and second - those of national service ostensibly to counter the problem of racial polarisation - may be simultaneously addressed in answer to public criticisms levelled against each of them - and all for the price of one.