National service allowance to remain at RM8 per day, says minister

 

A 14-day trial run for the National Service Training Programme 3.0, involving 200 male volunteers, will begin on Jan 12 next year, according to the defence ministry. (Bernama pic)

KOTA TINGGI: 

The defence ministry will retain the daily allowance rate of RM8 for participants of the National Service Training Programme 3.0 (PLKN 3.0), which will start next January.

Defence minister Khaled Nordin said there is no need to increase the allowance.

“We will retain (the RM8 allowance) for now. The programme hasn’t started. So, let it start first,” he told reporters at an event here today.

On Thursday (Dec 12), the special parliamentary select committee on security was said to have presented a report related to PLKN 3.0, including recommending the trainees’ allowance be raised to RM50 per day.

In another development, Khaled, who is also Kota Tinggi MP, said incidents of bullying and provocation among PLKN 3.0 participants can be avoided because the programme is only for a short period.

“The PLKN 3.0 will only be held for 45 days at the military camp. That is why we believe the issue (of bullying and provocation) can be managed,” he said.

Previously, deputy defence minister Adly Zahari said the ministry will carry out a 14-day trial run for PLKN 3.0, involving 200 male volunteers, from Jan 12 next year. - FMT