Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan recently announced that the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) will be reinstated next year and that the 3.0 version of the programme will be targeted at youths aged 16 to 35.
Following this news coming to light, social media was filled with various memes of older Malaysians joining the ranks at PLKN camps with SPM leavers in fish-out-of-water situations.
Well, this won’t exactly happen as it was all just a misunderstanding. even though PLKN 3.0 will be targeted at Malaysians aged 16 to 35, it doesn’t mean that those who have long graduated from secondary school will be called to join the programme.
As reported by Berita Harian, the Defence Ministry in a statement today clarified that only youths born in 2007 will be enrolled into PLKN 3.0.
The Ministry said that this was in line with the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628) and has been in place since PLKN was first introduced.
What was meant by PLKN being targeted to those aged 16 to 35 is that should an individual who was selected for the programme not be able to join for valid reasons, they can postpone joining the training until they’re 35 years of age.
The statement added,
“The Defence Ministry hopes that this explanation would clarify the public’s confusion on PLKN 3.0,”
It further asserted that the selection of trainees for the programme would be based on their birth year based on guidelines.
Section 3 of the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628)
So, what do you guys think of the clarification by the Defence Ministry? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: M’sians Hilariously Express Their Concern Over National Service Including Adults up to 35yo
