After being discontinued 5 years back, the National Service (PLKN) is officially coming back!
Known as PLKN 3.0, the training programme this time will feature different trainings as compared to the previous ones. For starters, the youth who are selected will conduct their training at their respective military camps. According to the Minister of Defence, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, he said that a number of 13 reserve camps in the country and 1 police training camp (PULAPOL) will be used for the training base.
“Training will be held for 45 days and could accommodate up to 25,000 trainees per session.”
Previously, trainees would have to undergo 3 months of training.
“A special committee was set up by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) to study how we can revive PLKN, but with a new ‘template’ (reference) that PLKN used to be used in many camps,” Hasan said in the Parliament today (October 9).
The special committee also considered splitting the program into 2 phases – first while the students are still in school, and the second, after the SPM examination. Hasan added that the decision to revive the National Service could end up costing less than RM100 million per year.
PLKN was initiated in 2002 with the formation of the National Service Training Department before starting the program in 2004. In 2015, it was suspended before being reintroduced again in 2016 and eventually, its abolishment in 2018.
To those who have served in the training previously, what are your fondest memories about it? Do you agree that the National Service should make a return for the youth today?
Also read: “It brings them together” – Politician Wants to Bring Back PLKN to Instil Patriotism Among Youth
