KUALA LUMPUR: A total of RM2,000 will be spent for each trainee under the revived National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0, says Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin.
The Defence Minister said this amount was way lower than what was spent by the previous administration for PLKN 1.0 and 2.0.
"A total of RM565mil was spent annually under PLKN 1.0 to train 71,300 trainees and RM361mil to train 20,000 trainees under PLKN 2.0.
"Under PLKN 3.0, a total of RM200mil will be spent to train more than 100,000 trainees," he said when answering a supplementary question raised by Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muda-Muar) in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. (Feb 4).
Syed Saddiq had questioned the cost of the PLKN programmes, claiming that RM11bil was spent to conduct the previous programmes which amounted to RM11,000 per trainee.
Khaled clarified that RM7,900 was spent to train a trainee under PLKN 1.0, RM18,000 under PLKN 2.0 and only RM2,000 under the current programme.
He noted that the current cost was much lower than the previous programmes and involves a high number of participants.
Earlier, Khaled informed Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) that the PLKN 3.0 would be implemented nationwide including in Sarawak in 2026.
He said that the PLKN 3.0 in Sarawak will be held at the 511th Territorial Army Regiment Camp.
On Jan 12, the PLKN 3.0 pilot programme was launched after it was abolished seven years ago.
The programme is being implemented based on voluntary participation in three series at two camps this year.
PLKN 3.0 series 1 involves the participation of 120 voluntary trainees consisting of 80 men and 40 women aged between 18 and 25 and from various backgrounds, races, religions, education and localities.
The trainees will undergo a training module that integrates 70% of Basic Military Training and 30% of Statehood Components.
