Kuala Lumpur: The 16th Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Zainal, who was Chief of Army from 2004-2007, has been appointed chairman of the National Service Training Council. This appointment is set to oversee the re-implementation of the National Service (PLKN) 3.0, effective from April 14, 2025, to April 13, 2028.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin announced that the appointment received approval from His Majesty, Sultan Ibrahim, the King of Malaysia. This decision aligns with the provisions of Section 7 of the National Service Training Act 2003 (Act 628). The reintroduction of PLKN, last discontinued in 2018, underlines the government’s commitment to fostering a patriotic nation with strong character.
During a presentation ceremony for the Certificate of Appointments at Wisma Pertahanan, Mohamed Khaled emphasized the importance of instilling patriotism. He stated, “We believe that while it may not be possible to ensure 100 per cent of our citizens are patriotic, love the country and willing to sacrifice for the homeland, at the very least we can earnestly establish a process or special intervention that will ensure a large part of our society continues to uphold strong patriotic spirit.”
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Armed Forces chief, Gen Datuk Mohd Nizam Jaffar, and Royal Malaysian Air Force chief, Gen Tan Sri Mohd Asghar Khan Goriman Khan. Mohamed Khaled highlighted that the National Service Training Council’s establishment, as mandated by Part III of the National Service Training Act 2003, serves as an advisory body to the Minister on national service matters.
The council, composed of members appointed by His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim on the Minister’s recommendation, includes a chairman, five government representatives, and three to five members representing Malaysia’s major races. Government representatives include the secretary-general of various ministries, while community representatives feature prominent figures from the Malaysian Youth Council and academia.
The council also includes state representatives, with Datuk Abang Shahminan Abang Sahari from Sabah already appointed, while the Sarawak representative will be announced later.