KUCHING: The National Service Training Programme (PLKN) has played a big role in bringing young people together, making it an important event in our country’s history.
In the past, this programme taught many important life skills and helped people from different backgrounds, races, and religions understand and respect each other better.
If we bring back this programme, it will focus on teaching about our country, helping young people stay fit while also fostering a sense of national pride and duty.
New Sarawak Tribune interviewed some youth to find out their thoughts on this matter.
MELISSA ANN COX, 23,
Student
I believe that the PLKN should be reinstated to offer opportunities for self-development and national fortification. However, its effectiveness must be thoroughly assessed before its reintroduction. My recommendation would be to increase its focus on contemporary skills and leadership cultivation.
NICKELYSON LAKUN, 24,
Reporter
I am firmly in favour of its revival to boost youth empowerment. Indeed, it provides the youth with the skills, values, and experiences they need to successfully tackle challenges.
BOBBY JACKSON MASHIN, 26,
Event Crew
The initiative should be brought back, especially for the contemporary young generation. I wholeheartedly support the PLKN’s reinstatement because of its benefits for teenagers’ personal growth. Many face growing disciplinary issues, and thus, this program can solidify positive values among them.
CLARESSA VANEYDA JIM, 21,
Insurance Agent
I concur. With the PLKN in place, we can better mold the personalities of the younger generation and afford them opportunities to engage in character-building activities.
EMMA ANCHAONG CHONG, 21,
Insurance Agent
I’m in agreement. It fosters national identity, instills a shared responsibility among citizens, and inculcates values like discipline, respect, and diligence in Malaysians. My proposal is for it to be a prerequisite for students before they enter the workforce.
JUSTINE FOO CHIN QIAN, 20,
Student
From my perspective, I currently oppose the reintroduction of PLKN. Given the country’s unstable economic climate, it may place undue strain on those who can’t bear the cost. It’s crucial for the government to first stabilise the economic landscape to safeguard the populace’s standard of living and decrease extreme poverty. To delve deeper, a SPM graduate’s extension for the PLKN programme is three months. In this span, students can undertake part-time jobs to alleviate their parents’ financial pressures as they transition to university studies.
