The Defence Ministry is evaluating the findings of a study by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry on the need for all female participants of the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) to undergo a pregnancy test before starting training.   

Deputy Defence Minister Abdul Rahim Bakri said today the study, conducted in 2011 on 4,500 respondents comprising PLKN trainees and parents, found that 94 percent agreed that potential trainees should take the test.

“The findings of the study have been referred to the cabinet and we will look into the aspects of practicality and ethics,” he told reporters at the lobby of Parliament House.   

Earlier, when replying to a question from Senator Lim Nget Yoon in the Dewan Negara, Abdul Rahim said the issue over pregnant trainees was tabled in the cabinet on June 23, 2011, to obtain a policy decision.  

“The cabinet agreed to obtain the views and findings of studies conducted by the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry and the Health Ministry. A cabinet decision is expected soon,” he said.

Abdul Rahim said that since 2004 when the PLKN was launched, there had been six cases of trainees giving birth during the programme.  

According to him, each trainee selected to attend the PLKN was required to make a declaration.

If a female trainee had health problems or was pregnant, she could refer her condition to a government health officer to be exempted from the programme in accordance with the conditions stipulated under the National Service Training Act 2003, he said.

He also said that there was a health declaration form which had to be filled in by female trainees and they could be exempted from the programme if they were confirmed to be pregnant.

“The accuracy of information provided in the health declaration form depends on the honesty of the trainees themselves,” he said.

- Bernama