I read that there is a reprieve for the 10,000 National Service programme shirkers. I thought the law is very clear in this respect that anyone found ignoring the NS call-up will have to face the music irrespective of who their parents are.

But apparently, someone realised just in time that there is a problem of a great magnitude is hauling up 10,000 people to court.

The NS is for a three-month duration. Let us assume that there will be an average of 3,000 shirkers over each quarter. Have the authorities thought of how they are going to handle this number?

A better solution needs to be found rather than punishing youths who have not committed any criminal act at all but are rebelling against the half-baked ideas of the government.

Taking these youths to court and charging them will again be at the taxpayers' expenses besides being an additional burden for the courts. The exercise will result in more negative perceptions of the government.