PLKN 3.0: Location, Duration, Date, & Implementation 2025

If you're an employer or HR professional in Malaysia, it's time to pay attention to PLKN again.

The Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) or National Service Training Program is officially back, under a new version known as PLKN 3.0.

While this program focuses on building discipline and national identity among youth, it also brings changes that may affect how companies plan their hiring cycles, internships, and entry-level recruitment.

So what’s different this time around? What dates should you look out for? And how could PLKN 3.0 impact your candidate pool in 2025 and beyond? Here’s a full breakdown.

What is the National Service Training Program (PLKN)?

The National Service Training Program (PLKN) first started in 2004.

Its main goal was to build discipline and a strong national identity among Malaysian youth.

It was a three-month training program that included physical training, teamwork activities, and community service.

Each year, young people were chosen randomly to join the program and were sent to training camps across Malaysia.

Over time, the program changed. It stopped in 2015, came back in 2016 as PLKN 2.0 with fewer participants, and was later stopped again in 2018 due to high costs and political concerns.

Now in 2025, PLKN is starting again as PLKN 3.0. It has a new structure, better training modules, and is more connected to schools and uniformed bodies.

What does this mean for employers?

You may notice fewer job applicants for a while, especially among school leavers who are joining PLKN.

However, those who complete the training may come to your company more disciplined, better at teamwork, and more prepared for the workplace.

Implementation of PLKN 3.0

This revamped version of PLKN comes with a smaller budget, a new structure, and clearer objectives.

The government allocated RM50 million to restart the program, focusing on school leavers and young adults, mainly those who’ve just completed SPM.

Instead of being treated as a single massive batch, PLKN 3.0 is now conducted in multiple phases:

Fasa Pra PLKN (Pre-PLKN Phase): Introduced at the school level (Form 4) during co-curricular sessions. This phase prepares students before full training.
Fasa Latihan Asas (Basic Training Phase): For those aged 17 and above, focusing on both physical training and nation-building.
Fasa Latihan Lanjutan (Advanced Phase): Still under discussion, but may involve vocational or technical upskilling post-PLKN.

Training is no longer done in general camps. Instead, participants will be trained in military facilities (Kem Askar Wataniah), public universities, and selected polytechnics.

This setting is meant to give the program a more structured and credible image.

Who is Involved?

For Siri 2/2025, trainees are selected based on birth year 2007. Participation is decided through the PLKN 3.0 system using random selection.

Although PLKN legislation technically allows for participants aged up to 35, the Ministry of Defence has clarified that only those born in 2007 will be involved in this round.

This group is mostly made up of recent SPM leavers.

These selected trainees must participate in the training unless they receive an official deferment.

Deferment may be granted for reasons such as health conditions, academic commitments, or family emergencies.

If selected, and they don’t join without a valid reason, they may face consequences as outlined under the National Service Training Act 2003.

This means that if you're hiring fresh school leavers in 2025, you may find that some candidates are unavailable between May and June due to their national service training obligations.

Location, Duration & Date of Implementation of PLKN 3.0

PLKN 3.0 is being rolled out in three phases, known as Siri (Series):

Siri 1 (12 January to 25 February 2025) involving 120 volunteers aged 18–25 years old.
Siri 2 (11 May to 24 June 2025), which affects employers most, runs from, involving 550 trainees.
This includes full-time, intensive training at two camps: Kem Rejimen 515 Askar Wataniah (KL) and Kem Rejimen 505 Askar Wataniah (Pahang).
Siri 3 (7 September to 21 October 2025).

Training is conducted over 45 days and includes a mix of modules:

70% military-style physical training: including leadership, group exercises, self-discipline, and team bonding
30% nation-building content: covering topics such as patriotism, unity, and civic awareness

This hybrid approach aims to produce more work-ready youth who are physically prepared, mentally strong, and socially responsible.

Review of PLKN Trainees Series 2 (11 May–24 June 2025)

In Siri 2 of the PLKN program, around 550 students born in 2007 are expected to join.

This may affect the number of candidates available for internships, part-time jobs, or entry-level roles, especially right after SPM.

Employers might notice fewer applicants during this period.

HR teams should prepare for this when planning recruitment for the second quarter of 2025.

If your company usually hires interns or school leavers around this time, you may need to delay your intake to July or consider hiring older candidates who are not part of the PLKN program.

There is also a chance to support students who complete PLKN by offering special job opportunities.

For example, companies can plan separate intake periods, short-term jobs, or training programs that start in late June or July.

This helps match the timing when these young jobseekers become available again.

More Information on PLKN 3.0 2025

If you're unsure whether your candidate is affected by PLKN 3.0, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has made it easier to check.

You can visit the official site at https://jlkn.mod.gov.my/ to perform a status check using the candidate’s details.

Employers may also keep updated through:

The official Mindef website: mod.gov.my
The Facebook pages of Mindef or JLKN
Direct contact with the helpdesk (during office hours) at: 03-4012 7306 / 03-4012 6151 / 03-4012 6538

These sources can help HR teams verify participation, confirm training dates, and adapt hiring or internship offers accordingly.

What Employers Can Do Next

If you’re managing internships, bulk hiring, or part-time recruitment for SPM school leavers, PLKN 3.0 will likely affect your candidate availability window. To prepare for this:

Review your hiring timeline for May–June 2025
Communicate with shortlisted candidates to confirm PLKN status
Build post-PLKN pathways, such as the July intake or conditional job offers
Train your HR team to understand deferment procedures and PLKN policies

Remember that while PLKN 3.0 may create short-term gaps in hiring, it also presents an opportunity to hire candidates who’ve undergone structured training, leadership exercises, and team development.

These are qualities that many employers look for but find hard to develop internally, especially in younger hires.

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