KUALA LUMPUR – Amid the brouhaha over the National Service Training Programme (PLKN 3.0), the Defence Ministry has reiterated that only those born in 2007 will be called up next year.
“Trainees will be called up according to their year of birth. If they cannot attend the session for whatever reason, trainees can apply for a deferment. The age limit to become a trainee is 35 years old.
“The ministry also hopes that this explanation can resolve the public’s confusion and concerns over the age limit of trainees,” it said in a statement.
Recently, Malaysians took to social media to post their reactions after a local news site claimed that PLKN 3.0 would involve those up to 35 years of age.
Previously, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said students aged 16 will be the main participants in the first phase, which is scheduled to take place in schools.
PLKN 3.0 will be implemented in two phases, with Phase 1 conducted at the school level involving Form 4 students, with a focus on enhancing existing uniformed body programmes.
After completing SPM exams, they progress to Phase 2, which takes 45 days with its 90 modules being military-focused to build the participants into resilient, energetic, and healthy youths, while 10% is based on nation-building initiatives.
PLKN 3.0 aims to prepare trained youths with strong character and a deep love for their country, which will equip them for future employment in crucial government agencies such as the Royal Malaysia Police, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, and the Civil Defence Force.
PLKN was introduced in December 2003, featuring three-month physical, patriotic, character-building, and community service modules. Every year, 85,000 to 95,000 participants join, with an annual cost of about RM600 million.
It ceased in 2015 to save costs and resumed in 2016 as PLKN 2.0 with around 20,000 trainees per year. However, it was abolished in August 2018. – November 3, 2023