The committee, which includes five government MPs, said the revived programme lacked clear objectives and goals, describing this as a legacy issue from its past iterations.

Its chairman, Indera Mahkota MP Saifuddin Abdullah, said the programme would also incur high costs for the government, and questioned the extent of its positive effects which he said could be achieved through existing programmes at educational institutions.

“This parliamentary select committee proposes that the government not proceed with PLKN 3.0.

“If the government does intend to go ahead with it, the committee is of the view that a thorough and in-depth study must be held first,” he said in a statement.

Saifuddin also raised concerns over the PLKN 3.0 module, which is 70% on basic military training and 30% on patriotism.

He said part of the military-related module had nothing to do with basic military training, while other content could be presented at existing education institutions.

“If PLKN 3.0 goes ahead, its goal and module must be based on military training or at least partly. But the question is this: does Malaysia really need such a programme?”

The backbencher members of the committee are Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen, Batu Gajah MP V Sivakumar, Igan MP Ahmad Johnie Zawawi, Balik Pulau MP Bakhtiar Wan Chik, and Jempol MP Shamshulkahar Deli.

The others are Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Maran MP Ismail Abd Muttalib and Bagan Serai MP Idris Ahmad.

PLKN 3.0 will be implemented in stages from next month. It will first be held at two military camps in Kuala Lumpur and Pahang, then expanded to 13 other camps nationwide, before being fully implemented in 2026.

The government has allocated RM50 million for the programme next year.