Only teens born in 2007 will be called for National Service next year - Mindef

SHAH ALAM - Only teenagers born in the year 2007 will be called to undergo the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 if the programme is reintroduced next year.

The Defence Ministry (Mindef), in a statement, said that the government essentially agreed to reintroduce PLKN with a new approach, PLKN 3.0, in line with the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628).

According to the ministry, trainees will be selected based on their year of birth, with a specific birth year cut-off for trainees to commence PLKN 3.0.

"If the selected trainees cannot participate in national service training for valid reasons, they can apply for deferment.

"The maximum age to be a trainee is up to 35 years," it said today.

Mindef also hoped that this clarification would resolve the confusion and concerns among the public regarding the age requirements for PLKN 3.0 trainees.

There was social media buzz when certain parties falsely claimed that participants selected to join PLKN for the new phase would be individuals aged 16 to 35.

On Oct 31, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan was reported to have said that PLKN 3.0 would be carried out in two phases.

In Phase 1, Form Four students will undergo training based on the Education's Curriculum Ministry, which includes co-curricular syllabi such as police cadets, fire brigades, and scouts.

Meanwhile, Form Five students who are exempted from Phase 1 training to allow them to prepare for the Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) examination will join Phase 2 at an existing Territorial Army training camp.