KUCHING, Nov 3: The Defence Ministry (MINDEF) has clarified that only teenagers will be called up in the proposed new National Service Training Programme (PLKN 3.0), but they are allowed to defer it until the age of 35.
The ministry said this in a statement amongst confusion on the age selection process for trainees, as well as concerns that the programme might include people between the ages of 16 and 35.
In the statement, MINDEF said that trainees will be selected based on their birth year, meaning there is a specific birth year criterion.
“For example, if PLKN 3.0 is to be implemented in 2024, then only those born in 2007 will be called to undergo training.”
The ministry further added that if the selected trainees were unable to participate in the programme for valid and permissible reasons, they could apply for a deferment until the age of 35.
Earlier, the government agreed in principle to reintroduce PLKN with a new method in accordance with the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628). — DayakDaily
