Kuala lumpur: The National Service Training Department (JLKN) is setting its sights on enrolling 10,520 participants in the upcoming National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 4.0, which will take place at six camps across the country next year. This ambitious target represents more than double the 4,200 participants who were targeted for the four training series this year.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, JLKN director-general Major General Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar announced the expansion plans, which include the establishment of additional camps. These new facilities are expected to be located in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan; Sungai Durian in Kuala Krai, Kelantan; Bukit Pinang in Kedah; and Bukit Keteri, Perlis. The operational readiness of these new camps will depend on the completion of necessary facilities.
The announcement was made following the National Service Training Parade for the 2/2026 PLKN 3.0 Series 2 at the 505 Territorial Army (AW) National Service Training Camp. In a related development, Marzuki reported that 1,369 trainees successfully completed a 45-day training session at three different camps. Specifically, 531 male trainees graduated from the Pekan camp, 245 female trainees from the Kuala Lumpur camp, and 593 male and female trainees from the Malbatt Village camp in Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.
Marzuki further highlighted that evaluations conducted in partnership with institutions such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) revealed that approximately 85 percent of participants provided positive feedback about the programme. He noted the absence of negative reports that could tarnish the programme's image and emphasized the voluntary participation of many attendees due to the perceived benefits of the training.
Addressing efforts to increase rural youth involvement, Marzuki mentioned that JLKN plans to boost promotional activities through social media, roadshows, and poster distribution at schools, town halls, mosques, and community centres. These efforts aim to raise awareness and encourage more young people from rural areas to take part in PLKN 4.0.