PETALING JAYA:The revamped National Service Training Programme (PLKN) will play a critical role in nation-building by fostering patriotism and good values in the youth, says defence minister Khaled Nordin.

Responding to a parliamentary call to halt the programme, scheduled to begin next month, Khaled said current conditions justify the reintroduction of the programme.

He said the programme has clear objectives to develop a new generation of Malaysians that prioritises patriotism, fosters unity, and has a spirit of volunteerism. At the same time, it is aimed at nurturing among young people an interest in military service and contribution to the nation, he said.

Yesterday, a parliamentary committee had urged the government to halt plans for PLKN 3.0, for lack of clear objectives and goals.

Committee chairman Saifuddin Abdullah, MP for Indera Mahkota, 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.

In a statement today, Khaled said: “PLKN 3.0 should not be seen solely as basic military training. It is a programme that also includes nationhood modules – such as love for the nation and unity,” he said.

“The defence ministry believes that fostering patriotism and good values in young people is not a secondary or supplementary matter, but a fundamental aspect of nation-building,” said Khaled.

Khaled said several academic studies have been conducted to measure the impact of this programme – with statistics on youth participation, participant satisfaction levels, and patriotism metrics indicating positive outcomes.

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.