Photo via mStar
The government is considering bringing back the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), which was abolished in 2018.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob told Parliament today (November 24th), a Cabinet memorandum on the matter will be prepared and proposed for the government's approval, since the National Service Act 1952 had placed PLKN under the Defence Ministry (MINDEF).
He added that PLKN is back on the drawing board as the programme had helped mould patriotism among Malaysians who had undergone training before it was disbanded under the previous Pakatan Harapan administration.
“Meanwhile, a total of 1,394 people hired as National Service (NS) trainers, who were affected by the move to stop the programme (by the previous government), have been hired on a one-year contract basis and placed in various agencies.
“This is to allow the officers, hired for the 2019-2020 term, to sustain themselves before finding a job,” he said.
PLKN was replaced with a youth leadership programme under the Pakatan Harapan administration, after it was deemed “bloated with dubious curriculum and contracts”, adding that those involved only wanted to make money from the programme.
What do you think about National Service being revived?
by Kyle Roshen Jacob
