KUALA LUMPUR – A parliamentary special select committee (PSSC) has recommended Putrajaya not to go forward with the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0, which will begin next year, citing high costs and lack of clear objectives behind its introduction.
Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, the chairman of the PSSC on Nation Building, Education and Human Resources, said the it made the recommendation following a briefing held by the committee on Tuesday (December 3) to discuss the evaluation reports for PLKN 1.0 and 2.0 and the implementation strategies for PLKN 3.0.
The briefing involved representatives from the Defence Ministry (Mindef) and the Malaysian Institute of Defence and Security (Midas).
However, Saifuddin said that the committee viewed that should the government intend to proceed with the programme, it would have to carry out a detailed study as the committee members are not satisfied with the programme which is riddled with unclear details.
The Bersatu MP stressed that should PLKN 3.0 proceed, its module would have to be either fully military or partially military.
“It means that if you want to do PLKN 3.0, you would have to do it properly, not like what is being proposed now.
“Questions have been raised on whether we really need it (programme). Are we like other countries that need this programme?,” asked Saifuddin in a press conference at the Parliament lobby.
Saifuddin also ticked off the training modules for being “mixed up” with 70% military modules and 30% civic modules allocated in it – which he pointed out was no less different than PLKN 1.0 and 2.0 which were marred with problems.
He also pointed out that the military module has content that is unrelated to the military.
“If you have decided to (do) military (module), then do a proper military (module). They did not even get this 70% module right.
“If PLKN 1.0 and 2.0 were riddled with a lot of problems, who can guarantee that PLKN 3.0 will run based on clear objectives?” he asked.
Saifuddin then moved on to the 30% civic module of the programme – which contains educational and civic content as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) content – where he pointed out that these lessons can be provided by educational institutions or programmes.
He questioned why money had to be spent for these lessons under PLKN when they are already taught in educational institutions and that some of the trainees have already undergone these lessons.
Saifuddin also asserted that the research done on PLKN 1.0 and PLKN 2.0 found that these programmes did not create positive long-term effects on the trainees, which means that they were less effective.
He also said that PLKN 3.0 would be costly to be implemented, just like its predecessors as reports on the past programmes highlighted that RM500 million were spent annually on these programmes.
“The cost of the programme outweighs the minimal positive impacts of the programmes.
“(Therefore) we (committee) feel that it is unnecessary to spend such a huge sum of money for PLKN 3.0 when its targets and objectives are unclear and we doubt whether they can be achieved or not,” he added.
However, Saifuddin stressed that the committee did not outrightly reject the programme, but instead wanted the government to properly review it. He also said that the parliamentary committee can assist the government on this matter.
He then added that he would be writing an official letter to Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin on this matter.
PLKN 3.0 will be implemented in stages from next January. To start, the programme would be held at two military camps in Kuala Lumpur and Pahang before being expanded to 13 other camps nationwide, once fully implemented in 2026. RM50 million has been allocated for this programme to be started next year.
Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari reportedly said an estimated 500 participants would be chosen for the programme’s January implementation. The number would be increased in the June intake.
He said PLKN 3.0 would target participants aged 16 to 35, involving students in Form 4, SPM leavers and students from institutions of higher learning, Bernama reported. – December 5, 2024
