National service training draws encouraging response as 10 turn up without prior confirmation

ALOR STAR: Ten individuals arrived at the National Service Training Camp unannounced, demonstrating a positive reaction to the National Service Training Programme 3.0 (NS 3.0). Colonel Abdul Rani Abdul Majid, head of the Policy and Development Division, pointed out that this turnout suggests growing interest in the programme. He confirmed that 211 trainees had registered for today's session, with the training encompassing 70% military modules and 30% nation-building components.

Majid urged parents to endorse their children's participation, citing favorable feedback from parent evaluations. NS 3.0 recipients gain merit points from five appointing authorities, providing an edge in relevant service applications. Major General Datuk Marzuki Mokhtar, the department's director-general, reported that parental satisfaction with NS 3.0 reached an impressive 95.55%, with all six key elements receiving over 90% positive responses.

The evaluation, involving 571 out of 4,199 parents, highlighted NS 3.0's effectiveness, scoring 97.98% for overall effectiveness and 97.79% for discipline and personal transformation. Mokhtar emphasized that the rising number of confirmed trainees for Series 4/2026 indicates a growing community response, particularly among parents who view the programme as a means to foster character, discipline, resilience, unity, and responsibility in young people.