Start of Malaysian National Service PLKN
Saturday, 14th February 2004
The first batch of about 25,000 Malaysian teenagers have started the inaugural compulsory three-month national-service stint aimed at promoting patriotism and ethnic unity. The program had targeted some 480,000 Malaysians who were born in 1986. Of these 85,000 were randomly selected by a computer program for service which comprises of conscripts that are 17-year-old youths. It is known as PLKN or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara which can be literally translated as National Service Training Program or just known as NS, is a compulsory 3 months military service program for teenagers. Male trainees are called Wira and female are call Wirawatis. The spent 2 months in physical training camp, followed by a final month in a university setting. The 3 months program end in Early May 2004. The second batches will begin in March 2004 and ended in June 2004.
The program was also initially planned as a 2-year program, which was later reduced to a year, and then six months, and eventually reduced to the present three-month duration. Objectives of the PLKN are to develop a young generation who are patriotic and with love and devotion for their country; enhance unity among the multi-racial communities in the country; instill a spirit of caring and volunteerism among society; produce an active, intelligent and confident generation;
develop positive characteristics among the younger generation through good values; and develop a generation that is obedient and loyal to the current government.