The National Service Council anticipates logistic problems with the governments's decision to give10,000 shirkers a second chance to undergo national service training.

Contacted today, its chairperson Prof Dr Ahmad Fawzi Mohd Basri said this will involve identification of suitable premises for accommodation as well as trainers.

He pointed out that the new semester for local universities - where the current 41 camps for the 85,000 trainees are sited - will commence in June. University students are currently on a three-month semester break, freeing up the facilities.

Ahmad Fawzi said additional trainers would have to be found because the 4,000 now on the list had been for a three-month stint only, for completion of the programme.

Rejecting the possibility that army camps would be used for the 'second chance'batch of trainees, Ahmad said the council would hold an emergency meeting on Friday to address the issues.

"It was a decision from the prime minister, we have to find ways to implement it," he said+

On Monday, Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that the absentees will be granted a reprieve, two days after the council threatened to take them to court.

Under the National Service Training Act, shirkers can face a six-month jail term, RM3,000 fine or both.

'Special camp'

On a related matter, Ahmad said the location of the proposed ' special camp ' for some 100 troublemakers has yet to be identified and that this will also be discussed on Friday.

The national service programme - mooted by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad - has been plagued with problems ranging from allegations of physical assault to sexual harassment.

This led critics to call for the suspension of the programme, which they claimed was 'ill planned' and 'hastily implemented'.

Yesterday, DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) proposed that the National Service Training Act 2003 be abolished. It will table a Private Member's Bill in the coming Parliament sitting in relation to this.

In response, Ahmad said: "(It is) up to them. DAP has asked for a suspension, now they want the act to be abolished, it is their idea. I am not a politician to give comment, I am just in charge of implementing the programme."

The training programme consists of four modules - nation building, character building, community service and physical training. It will cost the government RM500 million to implement annually.