KUCHING: In a significant development, the youth-led non-profit organisation, Architects of Diversity (Persatuan Pendidikan Diversiti), has expressed its strong support for the reintroduction of Malaysia’s National Service, or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN).
It recommends essential revisions to ensure a renewed emphasis on social cohesion within the programme.
“Malaysia currently faces a critical need to bridge divides among its segregated communities, particularly among the youth,” it said in a statement today.
“Recent years have seen a sharp increase in racial and religious divisions among young people. Factors such as the low attendance of Chinese students in national primary schools and the proliferation of private and international schools have contributed to socioeconomic and religious divides among Malaysian students,” it said.
Moreover, government integration programmes like the Student Integration for Unity Plan (RIMUP) have been downsized or eliminated.
“The advent of social media has further exacerbated the issue, with young people becoming susceptible to extremist narratives, as witnessed during GE15 when teenagers produced TikToks advocating for the repetition of the tragic events of May 13,”it said.
According to Architects of Diversity, PLKN is seen as a potential solution to rebuild social bridges and promote peace among youth. Its unique combination of residential experiences, conscription recruitment and a focus on national identity offers an unparalleled opportunity for fostering unity.
The organisation said PLKN should prioritise building social ties among youth from diverse backgrounds, promoting empathy and understanding as crucial public values.
For further details and the full set of recommendations, please refer to its White Paper available at https://www.aodmalaysia.org/plkn.
