Defence minister Khaled Nordin has again pushed back against calls to abolish the third iteration of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), insisting that the programme is crucial to shaping disciplined, resilient, and patriotic youths.
Khaled said PLKN is aimed at nurturing young Malaysians who would both support and “connect” with the armed forces, while encouraging the public at large to unite in defending the country.
He said the programme also fostered discipline and paved the way for greater participation in volunteer units like the Territorial Army as well as the naval and air force reserves.
“National defence is not the exclusive responsibility of the military. It requires the support and understanding of all citizens,” he told the Dewan Rakyat when winding up the debate on the 13th Malaysia Plan for his ministry.
Khaled pointed out that nearly 150 PLKN 3.0 trainees have since signed up for the Territorial Army, while 40 have enlisted for training with the army.
On Aug 6, Saifuddin Abdullah (PN-Indera Mahkota) urged the government to drop the national service programme, saying the funds should go to education initiatives instead.
The former minister previously argued that the programme lacked clear objectives and measurable outcomes.
The first batch of PLKN 3.0, launched in January, involved 116 voluntary participants nationwide who underwent a programme comprising 30% nation-building modules and 70% basic military training.
