The government expects to spend RM500 million on the compulsory three-month national service programme each year for 100,000 trainees, starting from February next year.

And there will be no evading participation. The National Service Training Bill 2003 - which provides for a fine of RM3,000 or six months' jail or both - will be tabled during the next Dewan Rakyat session which begins on Monday.

Defence Minister Najib Tun Razak, who chairs the special cabinet committee on national service, said today that dodgers would still have to serve out training.

Under the scheme, the first batch of trainees will be selected using a computer programme from an eligible 480,000 young men and women born in 1986. The majority will be sitting the SPM examination this year.