KUCHING: The government’s decision to resume the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) is a positive effort to instill good values among the youth.
Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the existing facilities for the PLKN will be used for a good cause.
“Personally, I feel that it (resumption of PLKN) is good because we have got so many facilities of that nature all over the country.
“If it (PLKN) is just first initiated in this kind of economic (situation), probably I might have reservations,” he said.
He said this to reporters after attending the inaugural Sarawak, Johor and Sabah Youth Integration Programme held at Borneo Cultures Museum here on Tuesday (Oct 10).
Abdul Karim (centre) poses for a group photo with the youth during the inaugural Sarawak, Johor and Sabah Youth Integration Programme.
Abdul Karim further said at least the facilities for the PLKN available in the country could be fully used and not abandoned.
“The upgrading of PLKN facilities has cost millions and millions of Ringgit and if can be reused again for a good cause, to bring our youth to be better, why not?” he said.
Earlier, it was reported that Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan had said the government has agreed to resume the PLKN with 13 territorial army camps to be used for training for a period of 45 days.
PLKN was introduced in 2003 before it was temporarily halted due to cost-cutting measures.
It then resumed in 2016 as the National Service Training Programme 2.0 and was abolished in 2018.
Meanwhile, the Sarawak, Johor and Sabah Youth Integration Programme is a collaboration between the state ministry, Sabah Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperatives and Human Resources.
The programme, involving 15 youths from each state, aimed at building closer rapport and exchange of ideas among the participants.
“I hope there will be more cooperation between the three states particularly in youth development, after all the youth are our future leaders,” Karim said.
Among those present were Sabah Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Ellron Angin and Johor Youth, Sports, Entrepreneur Development, Cooperative and Human Resources Committee chairman Mohd Hairi Mad Shah.
