KUALA LUMPUR – Former National Service trainees have lauded the government’s latest decision to revive the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), while suggesting for more improvements to be made.
Speaking to Scoop recently, several PLKN recruits of years’ past said that their initial stint in the national programme saw them learn a lot of valuable skills and experience, as well as meeting new friends regardless of their race and religion.
Former PLKN trainee, Izzyanie Izzat, 30, said the government should heavily monitor bullying cases in the camp by appointing strict trainers, noting that there were bullying cases which escalated to lodging police reports at her camp.
“At the PLKN camp, one can expect many trainees to be placed there. So the possibilities for bullying cases to occur are high.
“Therefore, those responsible will have to monitor them by appointing strict and disciplined trainers who can check on the trainees and do not solely depend on the dorm leader’s capabilities,” she said.
Izzyanie, who now works as a manufacturing administrator, who joined in Batch 1 Series 8/2011 of the PLKN, said the government should also prioritise food preparation and hygiene as there were a lot of food poisoning cases during the initial national service period nationwide.
She cited that the canteen at the Bumimas camp in Sibu, Sarawak, where she was sent to, had to close down for several days because of food poisoning cases, resulting in trainees having to get their meals from outside the camp.
Despite having mixed feelings about joining PLKN in the beginning and being homesick due to the camp’s distance from her hometown in Selangor, Izzyanie described her overall experience as amazing due to her having a thrill seeking personality.
“I was active in extracurricular activities so I was happy because I was chosen, although I was reluctant to go.
“One of the most unforgettable experiences during PLKN was that my series was in early 2011 so it was still a monsoon season and my camp was flooded until ankle-deep, forcing us to perform only indoor activities in the hall,” she said.
Meanwhile, maintenance manager Thana Prekash Selvarajah, 34, also agreed with Izzyanie about food hygiene and preparation at PLKN camps nationwide.
Thana joined the Batu Jun campsite in Kuala Krai, Kelantan in 2006, and said he experienced several health issues before he could adapt to the style of food served there because it was often half-cooked.
“The food preparation should be improved because I had to eat like a half-cooked fish which is unlikely like at home where food was served fully cooked,” he said.
In 2009, local media reported more than 100 PLKN trainees suffered from severe food poisoning in a camp in Pasir Mas, Kelantan.
Additionally, Thana said the government should also improve the toilet facilities, particularly the bathing area (kolah mandi) with regular maintenance, since it was being utilised by many PLKN trainees.
PLKN was first introduced by the government in December 2003, featuring three-month long physical, patriotic, character-building, and community service modules, with 85,000 to 95,000 participants annually.
In 2018, the government decided to abolish the programme and the National Civics Bureau (BTN) over concerns of both programmes being misused for the indoctrination of certain beliefs and overall yearly costs.
It was reported that the PLKN, which was under the purview of the Defence Ministry, cost RM500 million annually throughout its initial stint.
However, this past October, the government announced that it would introduce PLKN 3.0, which will accommodate teenagers who were born after 2007 and will commence in 2025.
Compared with the previous PLKN that required three months of service, PLKN 3.0 will only take place over 45 days, and is expected to cost RM100 million annually.
Nonetheless, Thana opined that the 45 days of service in PLKN 3.0 will not be sufficient for future trainees, especially because the three-month experience wasn’t enough in his opinion.
“They should have lengthened the service from 45 days. Even three months (experience) wasn’t enough.
“Parents should convince their children (if selected) to join the service because it will teach them discipline and there are many cases where parents asked doctors to cancel the admission because of health issues,” he said.
One of the main objectives of the programme was to enhance feelings of unity and friendship among people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds. Thana is a positive example in this regard, as he has maintained friendships with members of his PLKN camp until today.
Scoop also interviewed Thana’s PLKN compatriot, Muhammad Faizal Othaman, 34, who now serves as a corporal in the armed forces (TDM).
Similar to Thana, Faizal said 45 days for PLKN 3.0 will not be sufficient for the trainees who join because they might miss out on some crucial activities.
“During my experience in PLKN, we had marching, survival activities, water survival tests, kayaking, rifle shooting, first-aid training, and patriotism classes.
“So if the next PLKN is only for 45 days, I think some activities might be missing and the trainees cannot try everything,” he said.
Faizal agreed that the PLKN was a good programme for teenagers because it can promote friendships in multiracial communities through cultural night programmes and movie nights where all trainees would gather in one hall.
According to him, PLKN inspired him to join the army as the programme nurtured a sense of patriotism and a volunteering spirit; teaching him how to be disciplined and independent.
“I think the PLKN module was adequate since the trainers were well experienced and some of them were soldiers.
“It should be continued because it will teach the basics for our future generations to protect our country such as handling weapons.
“The younger generation will learn something from PLKN and it is normal to have the feeling that they do not want to go there but after spending some time there, they will like it,” he said.
Echoing Faizal, 35-year-old Master’s student Nur Madihah Mohd Azman agreed that the younger generations will have an advantage if they join the national service.
Madihah participated in the programme in Series 3/2006 in Karisma Camp, Negri Sembilan and said trainees will be trained to not give up easily and be strong.
Despite being far from home and homesick, Madihah said she still had amazing memories together with her friends while out doing the activities.
“It was challenging for me to be strong when I had to do something I never did before such as running while carrying loads at the same time.
“But, I participated in volunteering activities at kampung and had the chance to try rubber tapping for the first time in my life.
“I cherish the friendship with friends I met there, although different religions and cultures, we still keep in touch through social media,” she said.
Despite all the challenges and hardships, Thana was undeterred by injuries he had suffered during his service and continued with it after recovering.
According to him, during one of the training sessions where they had to do the military plank, he suffered from bacterial infections to his knees, forcing him to undergo surgery.
The doctor and management allowed him to withdraw because he could not do extreme activities, but he refused to do so.
“After the knee operation, I was given the chance to withdraw but I still wanted to continue in PLKN because I had fun there.
“I still have three weeks left so I told my father who came from Perak to Kelantan that I still wanted to continue,” he added. – December 18, 2023