MalayMail-Feb 28
Over two in three respondents of a survey said they agreed with reviving the National Service Training Program (PLKN 3.0). According to an Architects of Diversity’s (AOD) poll titled “PLKN 3.0: Public Opinion Survey”, 67 per cent of the 2,633 respondents aged 18 and above were supportive of the reintroduction.
Of the respondents, 74 per cent agreed that programme would have a positive or very positive effect on society. The survey said millennials the generation that experienced national service or those aged between 25 and 39 years’ old, had the highest positive opinion of National Service with 78 per cent rating it having a very positive or positive effect on society. When respondents were asked to compare different potential priorities of the PLKN 3.0, 58 per cent chose national unity as their preference. That was followed by youth development and patriotism with 56 per cent each, and military preparedness with 41 per cent. However, 52 per cent of respondents said they were most concerned with sexual harassment towards participants. This was followed by bullying towards participants (49 per cent) and politically-biased content (41 per cent). The group made several recommendations including greater diversity among trainers and trainees, transparency over program spending, conducting a pilot before a full relaunch, and the formation of an independent panel to handle complaints from trainers and trainees. Commenting on the program revival, Ledang MP Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh said patriotism among the current youth was at a concerning level, which could be addressed through the scheme. Read more at: https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2024/02/28/survey-most-malaysians-agree-with-new-national-service-scheme-think-it-will-be-positive/120409
