So, young Malaysians will be compelled to do national service, to mend the decades-old racial rift. One can't help but wonder if the government has the infrastructure and logistics to cater for this mammoth task.

But let's give the powers that be the benefit of the doubt and say they have. After all, it is easy for the government to get army personnel and other officials as trainers, though a more pressing question must also be asked: Is it able to handle the cultural sensitivities of all recruits with fairness? And not just of the Malay Malaysians, but the non-Malay Malaysians as well.

The government can no longer pretend that only the needs of one ethnic group is important as this will defeat the very important task it sets out to achieve — conquering racial polarisation. If it is not sensitive to this, the national service may be counter-productive and divide the ethnic groups even further.

I neither advocate nor oppose the national service, though I think the government certainly deserves admiration if it could actually get this off the ground on such short notice.

Based on my past experience and given the Malaysian army's track record, I have strong doubts if the service will produce the desired results. Most people join the army for the love of the profession, meaning it is a service by choice.

They learned to live with personally demeaning situations in the Malaysian army for the sake of their profession but those compelled to do national service may not be so charitable about it when they see privileges given to one group but not the others.

For example, all groups should be allowed to observe their religious duties. If pork that is taboo to Muslims is banned, will beef that is taboo to Hindus be excluded too? Will vegetarian meals be served?

I have felt truly sorry for vegetarians in the army. They are not only not catered to at mealtimes but may end up having to handle meat scraps when they are on fatigue detail, that is non-combatant duty. Perish the thought that the army will issue gloves to save them from this sacrilege!

And pssst...the other thing not issued by the army is toilet paper, so I truly hope the 'National Service Programme' has a budget for this. Otherwise, doting parents should prepare to stand by with this luxury. The only tissue paper issued by the army is in the combat ration's pack. The size of it is just nice enough to wipe your mouth, not for anything else.

As a new conscript, be prepared to ask yourself: "Am I prepared for this 'rite of passage'"?