National Service 3.0 lacks clear objective - PSC tells govt in urging for review

A Parliament Select Committee (PSC) has advised the government to review its plans to reintroduce the National Service training programme.

Citing seven reasons, the PSC on nation-building, education, and human resource development said that the government must halt the programme or launch an in-depth study prior to making any concrete decision.

“The implementation of National Service 3.0 lacks clear objectives and achievement targets. This is a continuing legacy issue stemming from the unclear objectives and targets of National Service 1.0.

“If National Service 3.0 is to be implemented, its goals and modules should be based on military or semi-military training.

“However, the question remains - does the country truly need such a programme?” its chairperson Saifuddin Abdullah said at a press conference in Parliament today.

In October, the government announced that National Service 3.0 was on track to be implemented in stages starting in January.

Deputy Defence Minister Adly Zahari had said that the programme would be held at two military camps in Kuala Lumpur and Pahang before being expanded to 13 other camps nationwide once fully implemented in 2026.

Nothing special about module

Saifuddin also questioned the module which he claimed largely contained military basics and the rest were nationalistic components.

“The proposed module places a 70 percent emphasis on military basics. However, some of its content is unrelated to military basics,” he said.

The Indera Mahkota MP pointed out that the Technical and Vocational Education and Training content, as well as that on citizenship and others, can be delivered through existing educational programmes or institutions instead.

Furthermore, studies have found that the first two National Service programmes did not leave a long-term positive impact on candidates, he said, adding that the cost was high compared to the relatively small positive impact.

It was reported that the latest programme is estimated to cost RM40 million.

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