THE Defence Ministry has clarified recent reports regarding the age limit for the soon-to-be-relaunched National Service Training Programme.

In a statement, the ministry said the first batch of trainees will be called up according to their year of birth.

It said that only teenagers will be enrolled when the programme recommences.

“For example, for training taking place in 2024, only teens born in the year 2007 will be called up to participate in the programme.

“If trainees are not able to participate in the programme due to permitted reasons, they can request a deferment. (In such cases) the maximum age to serve as a trainee is 35,” it said.

The ministry hoped the given explanation clears the air over any confusion or anxiety among the public over the age limit for the rebooted programme.

The National Service Training Act, passed in 2003, stipulates that trainees are to be between the ages of 16 and 35.

The proposed new National Service Training Programme – dubbed PLKN 3.0 – will not involve Form Five students who will sit their Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examinations, Defence Minister Mohamad Hasan said.

In a parliamentary written reply, he said these students will, however, be accepted into phase two of the training programme at military training camps.

Mohamad earlier announced that the relaunched programme will be conducted in three phases.

He said in the first phase, trainees will be identified when they are in Forms Three and Four, and training will be adapted into the school syllabus – unlike in the past when participants were called up after their SPM examination.

The ministry said phase two of the programme will now take only 45 days, while 90% of its content is related to military training. 

Phase three participants will train in with the fire department, civil defence, police force or military force, and be eligible for a permanent position.

“Under the National Service Training Act 2003, only those aged 16 to 35 will be involved. Form Four students will go through the existing syllabus under the Education Ministry in phase one.

“Form Five students will not be called up to allow them to prepare for SPM,” Mohamad  said. – November 3, 2023.