He questioned the lack of clarity on the criteria that would be used to select participants for the programme.

“What criteria are they using to select these minors? What rights do parents have to say ‘no’ to the government in order to keep their children safely at home?

“All Malaysians should be demanding to know who is being targeted and on what basis. After all, your children could be next,” said the founder of NGO Saya Anak Sarawak.

Last Saturday, deputy defence minister Adly Zahari was reported as saying the programme would be held at two military camps in Kuala Lumpur and Pahang before being expanded to 13 other camps nationwide in 2026.

He said the government had allocated RM50 million for the programme and it was initially slated for the middle of 2025, but was fast-tracked to January.

He also said PLKN 3.0 would target participants aged 16 to 35 from among students in Form Four, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia-leavers and students from institutions of higher learning.

However, Peter questioned the need to rush the programme’s implementation after Adly’s assurance that the public need not worry about the country’s security and defence capabilities.

He also said the government and defence ministry should be more transparent about the programme as its necessity “was not immediately apparent”.

“The deputy minister has only said the participants will have a sense of identity and have the highest level of ability to succeed in their respective fields when they leave the national service programme.

“Should they not be getting this from the national education system where the curriculum is clear?

“What are the values and identity the deputy minister thinks the Malaysian defence force can instil in these young people that requires them to be removed from their homes, communities and even states?”