KUALA LUMPUR: School students expressed mixed reactions to participating in the revived National Service Training Programme (PLKN).
Student, Aisyah Fatiha, said she believed the programme could assist her to be more independent and equip her with skills and resilience needed to tackle challenges after she completes her school education.
"I have never had the experience of being a boarding student or staying away from my parents, I feel like the programme will be beneficial to me as I can learn to manage myself independently," she said, adding that PLKN will be a good platform to build connections.
SPM student, Munirah Aliyah said that, "I might join PLKN if it was implemented because it will be a good experience for me as it will assist me to be stronger both mentally and physically."
Another SPM student, Sarinah Sukri, also said that PLKN can help teenagers utilise their leisure time productively after completing their school years, preventing them from wasting time on unproductive activities.
"This program is specially designed for teenagers, so I feel it's a missed opportunity for today's youth not to seize this chance to improve themselves and gain knowledge after finishing their education," she said.
After participating in the national service program, the students hoped to become more mature in their thinking, more self-reliant, enhance their sense of patriotism, become responsible individuals, and gain a broader general knowledge about the country.
"I hope the government can further look into it and maybe improvise the programme by including skills in line with the current trends such as information technology (IT) knowledge," Sarinah said.
While the three students were eager to join the PLKN programme, Shanusia Barathi and Laneesha Larq, both 17, said that they were not cut out for it.
Laneesha said "I wouldn't join because I don't see myself in the field. I personally can't picture myself in PLKN or in the military or anything equivalent to that."
Nevertheless, they both believed that the programme would be significantly beneficial to the youth nowadays.
Yesterday, Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan is looking at presenting the paperwork for PLKN 3.0 to the National Security Council (NSC) mid next year.
TIMELINE OF THE NATIONAL SERVICE PROGRAMME
May 28, 2003
- Cabinet approves a proposal to implement the National Service Programme and National Service Training Act 2003.
June 25, 2003
- The Dewan Rakyat passes the National Service Training Act bill.
July 7, 2003
- Dewan Negara approves the bill.
December 2003
- The three-month National Service (NS) Training Programme starts and is made compulsory for selected teenagers aged 18 and above. It encompasses physical activities and modules that impart nationhood knowledge, character development and community service.
- The NS's annual intake is between 85,000 to 95,000 trainees, with an average expenditure of RM600 million per year.
- The programme is handled by the National Service Training Department under the Defence Ministry
Jan 20, 2015
- The NS programme is temporarily halted due to cost-cutting measures.
2016
- It is resumed as the NS Training Programme 2.0 with about 20,000 trainees per year.
Aug 13, 2018
- The NS Training programme and National Civics Bureau programme are abolished under the Pakatan Harapan government. A minister cites concerns over racial indoctrination as one of the reasons for the removal of both initiatives.
Dec 5, 2018
- The government says it will implement the 'Malaysia Future Leaders School' programme to replace the NS. It will be held during school holidays and follows the summer camp concept.
Oct 9, 2023
- The Defence Minister tells Parliament that the NS programme will make a comeback after obtaining approval from the National Security Council.
