PLKN TO EXPAND TO 20 PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES NEXT YEAR

PEKAN, Feb 7 (Bernama) -- The National Service Training Programme (PLKN) will be expanded to 20 public universities nationwide next year, said National Service Training Department director-general Datuk Ya’cob Samiran.

He said the department will also implement a PLKN pilot project at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, as well as three each at polytechnics and Institutes of Teacher Education this year.

“The training period at universities is longer, covering one to two semesters, compared with 45 days at camps. Students who have completed the training at camps after obtaining their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia will be exempted when they continue their studies at university,” he said.

He said this at a press conference for the Malaysian Youth Parliament Roadshow Series 5 at the 505 Territorial Army Camp here today.

He said that through the implementation of PLKN at higher education institutions, about 150,000 youths can be trained within a year.

Ya’cob said PLKN will also be expanded to 13 training camps nationwide, involving a total of 25,000 participants a year.

“At present, only two camps are in operation, while the rest are still undergoing upgrading and preparations. The number of camps will be increased starting from the second series and subsequently the third series,” he said. 

Commenting on the case involving 254 male PLKN 3.0 Series 1/2026 trainees here who were advised to return home last January, he explained that the incident occurred when the number of participants who turned up exceeded the set capacity following last-minute confirmation of participation.

“For example, the maximum capacity at a location is only 500 people, but the number of participants who showed up reached 556. This happened because some candidates did not give early feedback but turned up on registration day, in addition to the attendance of reserve candidates and voluntary walk-in participants,” he said.

Ya’cob said his department had to adhere to existing procedures by prioritising participants who had confirmed and attended according to the stipulated procedures, followed by eligible reserve candidates.

-- BERNAMA