The government will give some 10,000 youths who failed to attend the national service training a second chance, said Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi today.

He said their names 'could be published' in the newspapers as a reminder for them to attend the training.

"We consider the national service programme seriously. Those selected must attend the programme," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

He warned that the government would not forget about the absentees as the training was compulsory.

Abdullah said parents and guardians must also realise that their children's failure to attend constituted a major offence.

On publishing their names in the newspapers, the premier said there is a possibility that some of them failed to receive their letters informing them of their selection via post.

Legal action

Last week, the national service council announced that it will pursue legal action against those who failed to attend the three-month long training.

Under the National Service Act, anyone who failed to report for the training could be fined RM3,000 or jailed for six months.

The training programme - an idea mooted by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad - kicked off this year involving some 85,000 youths born in 1986. The trainees are housed in 41 camps nationwide.

However, the programme has come under fire from various quarters following reports on skirmishes, possession of drugs and allegations of sexual harassment.

Opposition party DAP has attributed the problems to inadequate planning and has called on the government to suspend the programme.