PETALING JAYA: Although some parents have no issues with their children joining the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0, more of them would rather see a halt to the initiative as proposed by a bipartisan parliamentary committee.
Melaka Action Group for Parents in Education (Magpie) chairman Mak Chee Kin noted that the problems from the running of the programme in the past have not been ironed out.
“Issues on food, safety and hygiene still exist, and parents and children are not in favour of the reinstatement of PLKN,” he said. He also feels there is no purpose to PLKN as “similar activities can be taught in school or Territorial Army (Wataniah) camps”.Parent Action Group for Education (PAGE) chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim reiterated her stand that PLKN 3.0 should not proceed.
“There are other economic and educational priorities to consider.
“If unity is a concern, there are other methods that can be implemented without having to impose a large expenditure,” she said.
Nor Hanizam Harun, 51, however, is all for youth participating in PLKN.
“If it had been introduced during my time, I would have joined it. I would want my 17-year-old daughter to attend it if it goes on.
“It’s about getting the chance to be independent and learning to mingle with others,” she said.
Sneha Kumaran, 50, is reluctant to have her 17-year-old son take part in PLKN 3.0 based on her nephew’s unpleasant experience as a previous trainee.
“My nephew was part of the 2007 PLKN batch and after hearing his experience of being bullied, I do not wish to see my son join the programme,” she said.
Sneha said her nephew also suffered from skin rashes due to the unhygienic accommodation.
“He also got food poisoning from the food served,” she added.
Syafiqah Nor Rashid, 37, said she had only fond memeories of being part of the 2007 batch of PLKN trainees in Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor.
“We had team-building activities and community service, so we learned a lot,” she recalled.
Juliana Ismail, 31, who was from the 2011 PLKN batch, does not recommend it despite her relatively good experience at the camp.“I got to try mini ‘military’ activities but thinking about it now, I think PLKN would be time-consuming and interrupt your work or study plans,” she said.
Business analyst Nuradeannia Jaafar, 32, also agreed with the postponement of PLKN, saying that it lacks clear objectives.
“Some people told me they missed out on applying for a scholarship when they chose to join PLKN,” added the trainee from the PLKN batch of 2010.
