Nobody including women and students studying abroad is exempted from the proposed national service expected to start in 2004, said Defence Minister Najib Abdul Razak today.

He said a law will be introduced to compel all Malaysian youths do the national service and those who try to avoid it will face legal punishment under the act.

All youths aged 18 or students who have completed their SPM examinations will have to complete the proposed six-month long national service programme.