A National Service Training Programme (PLKN) camp in Penang was shut down on Friday after 50 of the 200 trainees had fever and sore throat.

JLKN director-general Abdul Hadi Awang Kechil said the decision to close the camp, after consultation with the state Health Department, was to ensure the health of the rest of the trainees.

“Simultaneously, all the trainees were given early releases from the programme so they could return home,” he told reporters afer visiting the Pinggiran Pelangi PLKN Camp in Bandar Muadzam today.  

He said the fever and sore throat experienced were caused by non-virulent virus after training in hot weather.

“A camp is closed from two to 14 days only under such circumstances, but since the trainees will complete their training on June 20, the time left is short, so we have allowed them to go home,” he said.     

Abdul Hadi, in the meantime, said JLKN had decided to cooperate with the Home Ministry’s (KDN) Young Squad by absorbing PLKN and ex-PLKN trainees into the squad.

He said this was aimed at coordinating and fostering the spirit of volunteerism in society among youths.

The KDN Young Squad which was launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in May last year was set up to instil the spirit of volunteerism among youths especially among those yet to join any organisation.

The Young Squad comprised volunteers from the Civil Defence Department, Malaysian Volunteer Force (Rela) and the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK).

 

- Bernama