I am afraid malaysiakini may have just gone a little too far in publishing Eric Mudasi's letter When national service can be a 'disservice'. A factor not previously considered might now introduce a new bone of contention in the ongoing debate on the proposed national service.

With one minister threatening to arrest anyone opposing the use of English to teach Mathematics and Science in schools, I cannot imagine what that same minister might say about dissenting voice that concerns a project that has something to do with the security of the nation. That is, assuming that the recent proposal to introduce national service has national defence in mind.

With the MCA and the other Chinese-based parties in the ruling front having just declared themselves a certain victory in the education 'deal', it is only fair to expect that they will once again come to rescue their youths and demand their right to be provided with such basic necessities as toilet paper!

I would like to suggest that if no one has yet to complain about the lack of these necessities in the Malaysian military to this day, then the status quo should remain even if a larger number who need these basics have joined them.

However, if this group is entertained, then it is only right that vegetarians also be provided for. In any case, it would be interesting to see how the national service proposal will unfold, especially now that the nitty-gritty bits, such as Eric's revelations, are coming out into the open.