PARLIAMENT | The government is planning to re-establish the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), which was abolished during the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2018.
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this was because the programme had boosted the patriotic spirit among the teenagers who participated in it after leaving school.
“The PLKN was abolished in 2018, but based on the positive impact effect in the development of patriotism in the youths who have participated in this programme, the ministry will recommend to the cabinet to implement this project again.
"We will prepare a cabinet memorandum paper (on this issue) to be submitted to the cabinet," Ismail Sabri said during the closing session of the debate for the Budget 2021 in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to Ahmad Maslan's (BN-Pontian) suggestion that the National Service programme be revived.
During the Harapan administration, both the National Service programme and the National Civics Bureau (Biro Tata Negara) were abolished.
The National Service programme received heavy criticism after a number of trainees died while undergoing the service.
In 2007, the family of a trainee Mohamad Rafi Ameer filed an RM10 million negligence suit, following the death of the 18-year-old after allegedly eating contaminated food at a training camp in Kemaman, Terengganu.
In March 2012, another 18-year-old trainee, R Vinoth, died after having fever for three days. According to the post-mortem, Vinoth had succumbed to leptospirosis, or commonly known as the “rat urine” disease.
In June 2009, Abdul Malik Ishak, 18, was found dead on his bed at Kem Guar Chenderai, Padang Besar, Perlis. He had no medical condition as shown on his health declaration form.
Dozens of others were also believed to have lost their lives while serving under the programme. - Mkini
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