National Service Training Programme (Malaysia)

National Service Training Department
Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara
(JLKN)
Department overview
Formed30 October 2002; 22 years ago (2002-10-30)
Dissolved13 August 2018; 6 years ago (2018-08-13)
Jurisdiction Government of Malaysia
HeadquartersBangunan Zetro, 2-5, Jalan 9/27c, Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur.
Minister responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
Parent departmentMinistry of Defence (MINDEF)
Websiteweb.archive.org/web/20180403011439/http://www.khidmatnegara.gov.my/
Malaysian Armed Forces
Components
History
Military history of Malaysia
Related information
Military manpower
Military age18 years of age
Availability
    • Men 16–49: 7,501,518
    • Women 16–49: 7,315,999
    • (2010 est.)
Fit for service
    • Men 16–49: 6,247,306
    • Women 16–49: 6,175,274
    • (2010 est.)
Of age per year
    • Men: 265,008
    • Women: 254,812
    • (2010 est.)
Military expenditure
Dollar figure5.4 billion (FY2015)
% of GDP1.4% (FY2015)
[1]

The National Service Training Programme, or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN), known locally as the Khidmat Negara ("National Service") was Malaysia's national service program under the Barisan Nasional (BN) government. The programme was handled by the National Service Training Department, or Jabatan Latihan Khidmat Negara (JLKN) under the Minister of Defence (MINDEF). The conscripts are 18-year-old youths that are selectively drafted. The three-month program, which started in December 2003, began as way to encourage friendship between youths of certain ages from different races and ethnic groups and address concerns that the country's multi-ethnic and multi-cultural groups who were seen of "becoming increasingly isolated from one another".[2]

The program was halted for one year in 2015 due to the federal government's efforts to cut spending.[3] The program was reintroduced as PLKN 2.0 in 2016, with participation to be made fully optional by 2019.[4]

On 13 August 2018, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman of the new federal government under Pakatan Harapan (PH) announced that the PLKN and National Civics Bureau (BTN) programmes were abolished, as he claimed they were being used for racial indoctrination.[5][6]

  1. ^ IHS Jane's
  2. ^ Kent, Jonathan (8 December 2003). "Malaysian youth face call-up". BBC News. Retrieved 31 July 2008.
  3. ^ Anisah Shukry (21 January 2015). "Why cancel National Service if it's so important, ask parents". The Malaysian Insider. Archived from the original on 24 January 2015. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. ^ "NS to be fully voluntary - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. 29 May 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
  5. ^ Syed Saddiq: BTN and National Service are abolished
  6. ^ "Syed Saddiq: BTN, National Service abolished". Archived from the original on 13 August 2018. Retrieved 13 August 2018.