PETALING JAYA: The first series of the revamped National Service Training Programme (PLKN 3.0) will begin in January next year with 200 trainees, says Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
He said that this first batch will consist of 148 boys and 52 girls, with training scheduled from Jan 12 to Feb 25 next year.
To ensure security and prevent possible cases of bullying, he added that 32 wardens will be stationed at the PLKN camp on a 24-hour basis, with CCTV installed throughout the camp.
He said that the RM8 reported as a daily allowance for trainees is untrue and there was no discussions or agreements to provide such an allowance currently and added that the agreement is to cover the transportation costs for all trainees.
The government will spend an estimated RM64 a day for each participant to cover their food, water, and other basic necessities at the camp,” he said in a press conference at Parliament on Monday (December 16).
Mohamed Khaled said this first phase of PLKN 3.0 will cost the government RM50mil and is designed to test the effectiveness of the ecosystem and methodology used.
He added that a second batch of PLKN 3.0 is currently being planned and will feature up to 500 trainees.
“There will only be mixed genders for this first batch; all future batches will separate boys and girls into different groups,” he said.
