TUARAN: The perception that the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) involves tough military-style training is inaccurate, and trainees should not be afraid to join the programme.
According to National Service Training Department (JLKN) trainee management division director Kol Mazlizan Shaikh Osman, military elements incorporated into the training made up less than 10% of the programme.
“The programme focuses more on exposure to physical endurance activities and character development.
“We provide exposure to activities such as obstacle courses, abseiling from towers, navigation, survival skills and handling M16 rifles,” he told reporters during the PLKN 3.0 Series 4/2026 registration session at the Sabah Rela Training Centre Camp here yesterday, Bernama reported.
The training also incorporates special modules from various agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the Home Ministry and Akademi Kepimpinan Malaysia.
He said the programme was a government initiative aimed at fostering patriotism, unity, discipline and resilience among youths.
Mazlizan also said results from six previous training series showed that over 80% of trainees agreed the programme had a positive impact while over 90% of parents gave very positive feedback.
On registration, he said 165 male and 80 female trainees were scheduled to join the 45-day training programme, which will end with a passing-out parade on Nov 16.
Regarding the selection process, Mazlizan stated that trainees born in 2008 were selected randomly through a balloting system under the National Service Training Act 2003.
At the 513th Regiment (Territorial Army) National Service Training Camp in Kepala Batas, 10 individuals voluntarily showed up to take part.
Kol Abdul Rani Abdul Majid, director of the policy and development division at the JLKN headquarters, said this indicates there are those interested in joining on their own accord.
He said 211 trainees who had confirmed their participation were scheduled to register at the camp.
“One of the benefits is that trainees who complete the programme will earn specific merit points from five appointing authorities,” he told Bernama.
The five are the Public Services Commission, the Armed Forces Council, the Police Force Commission, the Judicial and Legal Service Commission, and authorities related to the public service.
Separately, JLKN director-general Mejar Jen Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar said the evaluation of the PLKN 3.0 implementation revealed a high level of parental satisfaction with all six key elements recording positive feedback exceeding 90%.
Marzuki added that the latest series saw an encouraging response with 2,009 trainees reporting for duty at eight camps nationwide, surpassing the target of 1,203 trainees.
