Mindef clears the air on age limit for national service

The Defence Ministry has cleared the air surrounding questions raised regarding the age limit for the National Service Training Programme (PLKN).

According to the ministry, trainees would be chosen according to their year of birth, and the maximum age of participation is 35.

“There is a starting point in terms of year of birth for PLKN 3.0 participants. For instance, if PLKN 3.0 is implemented in 2024, then teenagers born in 2007 will be called to attend the training.

“If the chosen teenager cannot attend the national service training due to reasons that are allowed, they can ask for a postponement,” Mindef said in a statement today.

“The maximum age for a trainee is 35 years old. The Defence Ministry hopes this clarification will clear the confusion and outrage among the public regarding the age limit for PLKN 3.0,” it added.

Previously, the government's announcement that under the PLKN Act, youths up to the age of 35 could be drafted for the training programme, was greeted with ridicule and sarcasm by netizens.

Among others, working adults wondered how their daily routines would be radically altered if they were called up to join PLKN.

Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan

The issue of reintroducing PLKN gained attention after Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan informed Parliament about the government’s decision to revive it after it was discontinued several years ago.

In response to a question from Sungai Petani MP Mohammed Taufiq Johari, Mohamad said this decision was based on the findings of a special committee that recommended it to the cabinet.

He said the programme will be carried out with a new format that will not incur much spending.

“Under this PLKN Act, only individuals aged 16 to 35 will be involved,” he said.

The PLKN Act actually states that a proclamation by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong would determine the age group of those being drafted for training.

The proclamation must not draft those who are younger than 16 or older than 35.

However, by precedent, those picked to join the training programme in the last two rounds of PLKN have primarily been SPM-fresh graduates who are 17 to 18 years old - save for those who deferred service pending their studies.