JOHOR BARU: Youth groups believe that the proposed National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 is crucial to foster independence and enhance the mental and physical resilience of Malaysian youth.
Young Malaysians Movement organising secretary Brevia Pan Woon Shien said that parents should let go and allow their children to grow independently without being overly protective, as excessive protection may be detrimental to their development.
“Parents nowadays often shield their children, worrying that they are unable to endure rigorous military-style training.
“However, PLKN aims to provide national education, instil patriotism, educate on the importance of defending the nation and build a sense of identity,” she said when contacted.
Championing the youth: (From left) Aritharan and Pan.
Pan suggested integrating PLKN into schools’ extracurricular activities to ensure broader participation among students.
She added that all students should participate to achieve the best results of training, which is to create a patriotic society.
“Participants of the previous PLKN were selected through a screening mechanism, which is on a compulsory basis, but at the same time, the government should also welcome volunteers.
“The content of the training should be conducted in a high-density format. Otherwise, a 45-day training session will be like a camping trip for students,” she said, adding that the training period is insufficient.
Moreover, Pan proposed inviting former participants to share their success stories and where they are now, demonstrating PLKN’s positive impact.
Johor Tamil Youth Council president P. Aritharan said that PLKN is also the best way to promote understanding and respect between different cultures and communities among youths from diverse backgrounds.
“Living and working closely together enhances interpersonal skills like empathy and social awareness, encouraging participants to appreciate each other’s differences.
“The experiences gained in PLKN can be translated well into the workforce. Skills like teamwork, discipline and leadership are highly valued by employers,” said Aritharan, adding that participants are also taught skills such as collaboration, time management, initiative and work ethics.
Aritharan also emphasised the importance of participant safety through proper medical support and risk mitigation strategies.
“There is a need to tackle the public’s perception of the military training module as no parent would desire their child to undergo harsh training.
“I also suggest that opportunities for direct recruitment or absorption into any uniformed forces should be opened to any trainee who displays potential and interest to join upon programme completion,” he said.
Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin reportedly said that PLKN 3.0 is expected to start with a pilot project in June or July next year, while the basic PLKN phase involving participants aged 17 and above is expected to begin in April 2026.
