The Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) is studying the possibility of extending the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0 to private higher education institutions as part of efforts to broaden student participation in the initiative.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said discussions on the matter would be carried out with the National Service Training Department (JLKN) to determine the most suitable implementation framework and timeline.
He said the current focus remains on public universities, but the ministry is open to expanding the programme to private institutions, including those owned by state governments and government-linked entities.
“Many states have their own universities, while several institutions are linked to GLCs. These are among the institutions that will be considered as we evaluate the next phase of implementation,” he told reporters after launching the book ‘Nahas Gerik: UPSI Berduka’ at the Sultan Idris Education University (UPSI).
Earlier, Zambry officiated the Public University-Level Pilot Programme for PLKN 3.0. Also present were Defence Ministry Deputy Secretary-General (Management) Datin Roszanina Wahab, Higher Education Department Director-General Datuk Prof Dr Azlinda Azman Marzuki and UPSI Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Md Amin Md Taff.
Commenting on UPSI’s role as the first university to implement the revamped national service programme, Zambry said the pilot initiative had received encouraging participation from students.
A total of 1,005 newly enrolled diploma students from the university’s June 2026 intake were selected to undergo the programme, comprising 567 male and 438 female trainees.
He said the ministry was fully committed to ensuring the successful implementation of PLKN 3.0 before gradually extending it to other segments of the higher education sector.
“Following the public university phase, we also intend to introduce the programme at polytechnics and community colleges. At present, however, our priority is to ensure smooth implementation within public universities,” he said.
The pilot programme follows the allocation of RM250 million under Budget 2026 to support the initial rollout at the tertiary education level ahead of a planned expansion to all public universities in 2027.
Separately, Zambry said the publication of ‘Nahas Gerik: UPSI Berduka’ was aimed at preserving the memory of a tragedy that deeply affected the university community and the wider public.
He said the book serves as a historical record of the fatal bus accident involving UPSI students in Gerik in June last year, while also paying tribute to the victims and their families.
-EDUCATION TVET ASIA