TANJONG MALIM, June 16 — The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is planning to involve private higher education institutions (IPTS) in the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) in the future.

Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said, however, that the matter is subject to discussions with National Service Training Department (JLKN) director-general Maj Gen Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar.

“He will determine the sequencing of the programme, including whether private institutions will participate alongside public universities. Following the involvement of public universities, private institutions may be included at a later stage.

“We will also look at state-owned private higher education institutions, as every state has its own universities. There are also government-linked company (GLC) universities such as Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), Multimedia University (MMU) and others, which will be given due attention,” he told reporters after the launch of the book titled Nahas Gerik: UPSI Berduka at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) here today.

Earlier, he officiated the pilot programme for the PLKN 3.0 at the public university level, which was also attended by Defence Ministry deputy secretary-general (Management) Datin Roszanina Wahab, Higher Education Department director-general Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman, Marzuki and UPSI vice-chancellor Datuk Prof Dr Md Amin Md Taff.

On UPSI becoming the first university to implement PLKN 3.0, Zambry said the programme had received an encouraging response, involving 1,005 newly enrolled diploma students from the June 2026 intake, comprising 567 male and 438 female trainees selected to participate.

“At the MOHE level, we are fully committed to ensuring that PLKN 3.0 is implemented as effectively as possible.

“After that, we will also roll out the programme at polytechnics and community colleges. However, at this stage, our focus is on public higher education institutions (IPTAs) first,” he said.

Previously, Bernama reported that the programme followed a RM250 million allocation under Budget 2026 for a pilot implementation at the higher education level before being expanded to all IPTAs in 2027.

Meanwhile, regarding the launch of the book today, its publication is an initiative by UPSI to document an event that had a profound impact on the university community and society at large, while also serving as a tribute to the victims and families affected by the UPSI student bus tragedy in Gerik on June 9, 2025.

In the early hours of June 9, 2025, 15 UPSI students were killed when a specially chartered bus transporting them from Jertih to the university's main campus in Tanjong Malim overturned after colliding with a Perodua Alza multi-purpose vehicle (MPV). — Bernama 

PEKAN, June 8 — The National Service Training Department (JLKN) is targeting 10,520 participants to join the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 4.0 at six camps nationwide next year.

JKLN director-general Major General Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar said the increased target is more than double the 4,200 participants targeted for the four training series this year.

“For PLKN 4.0, several additional camps are expected to begin operating including in Gemas, Negeri Sembilan; Sungai Durian in Kuala Krai, Kelantan; Bukit Pinang in Kedah and Bukit Keteri, Perlis. The opening of these new camps depends on the readiness of the facilities,” he said.

He told reporters after the National Service Training Parade for the 2/2026 PLKN 3.0 Series 2 at the 505 Territorial Army (AW) National Service Training Camp, here today.

Meanwhile, he said a total of 1,369 PLKN 3.0 trainees successfully completed the 45-day training at three camps held simultaneously today.

“Of the total, 531 male trainees were from the Pekan camp, 245 female trainees from the Kuala Lumpur camp and 593 male and female trainees from the Malbatt Village camp, Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan,” he said.

Marzuki said the results of the evaluation conducted in collaboration with several institutions such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Pertahanan Nasional Malaysia (UPNM) showed that approximately 85 per cent of participants gave positive feedback on the programme.

“So far, I have not received any negative reports that could affect the image of this programme. In fact, many participants attended voluntarily because they saw the benefits gained through the training carried out,” he said.

Commenting on the participation of rural youth, Marzuki said JLKN would intensify promotional efforts through social media as well as roadshows and poster distribution programmes to schools, town halls, mosques and community centres to ensure that more of this group is aware of the opportunity to participate in PLKN. — Bernama