SEREMBAN, November 16 — The Ministry of National Defense (Mindef) will conduct a 14-day trial run for the National Service Training Program (PLKN) 3.0 with the participation of 200 male volunteers, starting from January 12 next year.

Deputy Defense Minister Adly Zahari said the trial run will be held at the 515th Territorial Army Regiment in Kuala Lumpur for program preparation and curriculum evaluation before the actual launch of PLKN 3.0 next June.

“We have a small window of time for the trial period… this is to evaluate the effectiveness of the (PLKN) training curriculum and modules and perhaps make improvements (in the curriculum and modules) because we have a lot of experience operating PLKN before.

“With this method, I think we can accelerate the process of being 100 percent equipped or ready for June. “We want to ensure that the prepared modules and trainings are effective and that improvements are made when necessary,” he said.

He told reporters this after overseeing the launch of the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) Veteran Entrepreneurs Empowerment Program (PUVET) at the Negeri Sembilan state level and the presentation of grants to 13 MAF veterans here today.

Adly said the trial run is open to all Malaysian men between the ages of 18 and 20, and they have until November 23 to apply through the Mindef website at mod.gov.my.

Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin was previously quoted as saying that PLKN 3.0 will be phased in from June or July 2025 under a new concept and format.

He added that this would be divided into the Pre-PLKN Phase, covering Form Four students, and the Foundation PLKN Phase for those aged 17 and over, which would be implemented during co-curricular activities in schools.

Khaled said the Basic PLKN Phase, consisting of 30 percent basic national service modules and 70 percent basic military training, will begin in April 2026 at 13 Territorial Army camps, 20 state universities and selected polytechnics across the country.

Meanwhile, Adly said 216 MAF veterans have received grants totaling RM1.08 million through the MAF PUVET initiative since its implementation last year, and 1,818 entrepreneurs across the country have joined the initiative.

He said the grant, an initiative by the Support for Rural Entrepreneurship Development (SPKLB) and the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, could increase productivity and further expand the market for veterans’ products.

He also hopes that more ministries, institutions and private companies will become involved in the MAF PUVET program through the Ex-Servicemen’s Affairs Authority (PERHEBAT) to ensure that all entrepreneurial incentives are directed more targeted to army veterans.

“PERHEBAT, in collaboration with Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), will provide training to veterans, including in the field of agriculture. Recently, we also met PLUS regarding the field of entrepreneurship. “We will look at the potential of MAF veterans cooperatives that are competitive for this purpose,” he said.

He said the cooperation with the concessionaire is not limited to the business of gas stations only, but will also include the establishment of businesses in recreation and service areas so that MAF veterans can further market their products. — Bernama