KUALA LUMPUR: The National Service Training Programme 3.0 (PLKN 3.0) is only expected to begin in Sarawak in July 2028, at a camp with a maximum capacity of 300 trainees, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Defence Ministry said the programme in the state was expected to start with Series 3/2028, scheduled for July to August that year.
It was replying to Ahmad Johnie Zawawi (GPS-Igan) who asked about the programme's status in Sarawak and how it would ensure rural and interior youths are not left out.
Preparations, including obtaining approval for land use, were being actively carried out, the ministry said in a written parliamentary reply on Thursday (Oct 8).
"Training will be held at National Service Training Branch (CLKN) 511 under Regiment 511 of the Territorial Army at Kem Semantan, Sarawak," it said.
"Of the 300 places, 60% are allocated to participants from Sarawak, 30% to those from Sabah and 10% to those from Kuala Lumpur," it added.
The ministry said this was to increase participation from East Malaysia and strengthen national unity.
Sarawak youths have been taking part in PLKN 3.0 since Series 1/2025, with 94 trainees from the state joining across seven series, three in 2025 and four this year, it said.
According to the ministry, trainees are picked through balloting and voluntary applications, and must be Malaysian citizens aged 18 to 25 by year of birth, physically fit and not have joined any previous PLKN series.
The ministry said random and voluntary recruitment alone could not guarantee the inclusion of youths from rural and interior areas.
It said the National Service Training Department (JLKN), through the National Service Training Council (MLKN), had decided that the council's representative from Sarawak would identify and propose candidates from these areas for consideration.
"This approach will be implemented after the MLKN representative from Sarawak is appointed," it said.
