As of noon, 279 male trainees registered at the 505th regiment camp in Pekan, Pahang, while 250 female trainees registered at the 515th regiment camp here.
National service training department director-general Ya’cob Samiran said the series targets 700 participants, with the figure expected to rise as registration continues until next week.
“The turnout reflects the strong commitment of Malaysian youths to embrace the challenge of defending the nation while fostering values of leadership, courage and camaraderie.
“The training will provide them with an important experience to become more disciplined and visionary individuals,” he told a press conference after the registration session at camp 515 today.
Ya’cob said 60 trainees turned up despite not confirming their participation earlier, reflecting their determination to undergo the training.
He added that although about 20% of initial candidates withdrew for official reasons, including health issues and academic commitments, the registration process went smoothly.
“This series also saw a unique participation of male triplets who reported together at camp 505,” he said.
PLKN 3.0 is a government initiative to nurture a young generation that is balanced in physical, mental, social and patriotic values. The three training programmes this year serves as a trial phase before the full implementation begins in 2026.
Meanwhile, Ya’cob said his department is targeting more than 8,000 youths to join PLKN 3.0 next year, with several new camps to be opened, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
He said the first series would begin in Gemas, followed by nine other camps in states such as Perlis, Terengganu, Negeri Sembilan and Johor starting in April.
“We will also open a new camp in Sabah at Kukusan Camp, Tawau, while another is planned in Sarawak, either in Kuching or Sematan,” he said.
Ya’cob said male and female trainees would continue to be placed in separate camps, as in previous series.
He added that feedback from trainees and families in earlier series showed that over 90% were satisfied with the modules, facilities and overall training experience, with many requesting that the training period be extended.
The PLKN 3.0 Series 3/2025 has also recorded an increase in voluntary participation of more than 50% compared with the previous series, reflecting strong acceptance of the programme among the younger generation.