Following the announcement of the planned return of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has announced that it will conduct a 14-day trial run for PLKN 3.0 involving 200 male volunteers from January 12 next year.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari said the trial run will be held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment in Kuala Lumpur as preparation and syllabus evaluation for the programme before the actual PLKN 3.0 takes off next June.
âWe have a small window for the trial period… itâs to assess the effectiveness of the (PLKN) training syllabus and modules and perhaps make improvements (to the syllabus and modules) because we have a lot of experience running the PLKN previously,” he explained.
âI feel that through this method we can expedite the process of being 100% equipped or ready come June. We want to ensure the modules and training prepared are effective and improvement is made where necessary.”
Adly also said the trial run is open to all Malaysian men aged between 18 and 20, and they have until November 23 to apply via the Mindef website.
Meanwhile, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was previously quoted as saying that the PLKN 3.0 would be implemented in stages from either June or July 2025 under a new concept and format.
He added that it would be divided into the Pre-PLKN Phase involving Form Four students, implemented during co-curricular activities, and the Basic PLKN Phase for those aged 17 and above.
Khaled said the Basic PLKN Phase, comprising 30% basic national service modules and 70% basic military training, will begin in April 2026 at 13 Territorial Army camps, 20 public universities, and selected polytechnics nationwide.
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Also read: Deputy Defence Minister: ONLY SPM Leavers Required to Participate in PLKN 3.0
