All in: Trainees waiting to register at the 515th Territorial army regiment camp in Kuala Lumpur. — Bernama
KUALA LUMPUR: Form Six student Chee Ming Hang was so eager to sign up for the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) that he spent a night at his friend’s house here just so that he could be on time to register himself at the Territorial Army’s 515th Regiment Camp.
The SMK Temerloh student had left his hometown in Pahang on Saturday, making a 135km journey by bus on his own.
“I have long dreamt of being a PLKN trainee as I want to experience what life is like in uniform. I am also interested in becoming a soldier as they look handsome in their uniforms,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama after completing the programme’s registration session.
He was among the first batch of 120 youths who – clutching their bags and towing their luggage – signed up to camp yesterday.
Comprising 80 men and 40 women aged between 18 and 25, the first group reported to the 515th Territorial Army Regiment camp in the early morning.
Chee, who learnt of the programme from his teacher, seemed excited to make new friends, describing it as the best medium for youths like him to learn more about unity.
Fellow trainee Muhammad Khayriel Ikhsan Suip, 18, said his interest in extreme sports compelled him to volunteer for PLKN, adding that he hoped to boost his self-motivation and his military knowledge after completing the 45-day training.
He was one of the first trainees to show up at the camp at 7.30am, having left Puchong an hour earlier on his motorcycle.
“I really am interested (in PLKN) because I was a cadet previously.
“In fact, I’m currently taking a Diploma in Legal Enforcement at a private college,” he said.
Another trainee, U. Mugesh Varmaan, 19, expressed his determination to complete the programme as he wanted to join the Armed Forces.
“I learnt about PLKN through the college and want to use this opportunity to make my dream of being in the Armed Forces a reality,” said the teenager, who was accompanied by his mother M. Sivaneswary, 45.
Admitting to feeling a little anxious at being apart from her youngest son for 45 days, Sivaneswary said she was also proud of him for showing interest in the programme and hoped that he would benefit from it.
“It is quite a long period but he will likely learn many new things, for instance, how to be independent when I’m not around.
“I also hope that other parents won’t worry about sending their children for this programme as I find that their safety is taken care of in the camp and the facilities are all in proper order,” she added.
In a statement, the Defence Ministry said the first group had volunteered for PLKN 3.0.
“While the majority signed up earlier when the programme was offered in November last year, 13 showed up as ‘walk-in’ candidates to register themselves,” it said, adding that the trainees are from various religious and educational backgrounds, and different locations across the country.
The PLKN 3.0 this year, it said, comprises three intakes – with the next two sessions for fresh batches being held between May 11 and June 24 and between Sept 7 and Oct 21.
The coming sessions will be held at two locations – the 515th and 505th Territorial Army Regiment camps, the latter located in Pekan, Pahang.
“Throughout the programme, the candidates will undergo physical, mental and civic training.
“About 70% of the training modules will incorporate basic military training and the rest are on components of nationalism.
“Besides basic military skills under the first module, the trainees will learn about national security policies, the Malaysia Madani fundamentals of well-being as well as leadership skills.
“In the second module, the training will be on enhancing unity, patriotism and one’s identity,” it said, adding that the 45-day training for the first batch will end on Feb 25.
The PLKN 3.0 programme, said the ministry, is being carried out mainly to unite and foster close ties among the races, strengthen patriotism among the younger generation, develop positive character and the practice of good values, and promote the spirit of volunteerism.The PLKN, which comes under the National Service Training Act 2003, was introduced over two decades ago and was then compulsory for selected youths to attend.
It was a three-month training programme involving between 85,000 and 95,000 trainees each year at an average cost of RM600mil annually.
It was abolished in 2018 before being revived this year.
On Saturday, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin told The Star that an assessment of the first batch would be thorough and the findings would be made public.
He said the assessment would help with improvements and enhancements where it is needed before the programme is held on a bigger scale with four intakes annually.
