The ill-thought out NS training programme has resulted in its present problems. Now the minister in charge of this Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) must deal with10,000 shirkers.

The fact that it is not prepared to deal with these shirkers efficiently shows how poorly the whole programme has been planned.

First the National Service training council chairman Prof Dr Ahmad Fawzi Mohd Basri said that the shirkers would be charged in court. Did he consider how the council was going to track down all the 10,000 shirkers? So far only 2,700 of them could be contacted.

If rounding up all 10,000 were possible, how long would it take to charge all of them in court? What would be the expense involved? For those among the shirkers who are among the nation's work force, imagine the number of work-hours lost and the loss of income.

Next, we have the public coming out clamouring for these shirkers not to be taken to court, that they be given a second chance and that a more friendly approach in coaxing them to attend the national service should be considered.

Finally, Pak Lah came out with the decision to give these 10,000 shirkers a second chance . Did he really have any other choice given the problems of charging them all in court and the feelings of the public?

The decision to give the shirkers a second chance has lead to logistic problems of its own. The ball now is at the council's feet to implement the PM's hasty decision. Where to house these shirkers, when to have the training programme, who would their trainers be?

The council will hold an emergency meeting to address these issues. Would more problems crop up or would there be solutions? Till today the he location of the proposed ' special camp ' for some NS trainee troublemakers has yet to be identified.

When the day comes to finally analyse results of the NS programme, would its stated objectives have been achieved? Considering the amount of taxpayers' money spent and the amount of effort expended by the trainees and their parents, the answer had better be in the affirmative.

If the stated objectives are just a pipe dream, then the NS should be suspended in its present form and be introduced later after a thorough overhaul.