SIBLING SERIES 11: PLKN

National Service Training (PLKN) has a very noble objective of improving the character of trainees, their ability to work in teams and enhancing their understanding on cultures and religions of other races. These understandings would definitely enhance racial unity of the country and strengthen the spirit of nation building.

PLKN trainings will also instill in them a sense of patriotism as it would increase their appreciations on the sacrifices of the armed forces, police and other various uniformed bodies of the government. Our youth would benefit tremendously from this program physically and psychologically.

PLKN programme will also speed up the realization of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib “1 Malaysia’" concept. The concept stresses on unity and integration of races, religions and cultures to become one Malaysian race. The Director General of The National Service Training Department, Datuk Abdul Hadi Awang said a survey showed that the programme had been successful in promoting this concept as 85% of the 384,504 trainees that has undergone the PLKN trainings admitted that it had united them. Two of the trainees that concurred with these findings were the descendants of Haji Yaacob.

PLKN has also a deep impact on Haji Yaacob’s family as four of his great grand children were chosen to participate in the PLKN programs. The first Haji Yaacob descendant to be chosen as the pioneer participant was Nami's youngest son, Azril Nizam (Alin). Consequently three others were chosen for this year’s training programme i.e. Amalina, Lin and Farhana. Amalina has to undergo the PLKN training at Bukit Besar Camp, Kulim while Lin has to undergo PLKN training at Padang Besar Camp, Perlis. I was made to understand that Farhana was still searching for various escapism clauses whereby she would be exempted from the third phase of PLKN training in the middle of the year (2009).

Abang used to remind his nephews and nieces that PLKN programme is very beneficial to the trainees. If you were chosen, then you should consider yourself very lucky and grab it without any winkling. You should not think yourself as the unfortunate ones or even as bad omens for you. Abang cited that in the western countries, you have to pay by the thousands for the summer camp participation. Here in Malaysia, you are very fortunate indeed because it is free and you are also being paid a monthly allowance of RM 150.00. Abang's advice was that you should grab the opportunity and not feeling sad about it.

On 28 Disember 2008, both parents i.e Amalina and Lin accompanied their daughters to the pick up point at Stadium Darul Aman. In the early morning, Ezman also went to the Stadium to witness his cousins’ departure to the two camps or rather with the sinister intention of teasing them. We wanted to go to Noraini's house that evening but following Ezman’s advice, we dared not go to Kampung Pisang as the tears of Amalina’s father, Wan Mansur was still flowing freely even during the evening. We did not want to make matters worsened for the sorrowful couple.

Although he has physically let go off Amalina, yet psychologically he has not let Amalina go. He is too possessive of his only daughter as he still regards Amalina as still a little girl that has to be protected round the clock. Whereas physically and mentally, Amalina is already a grown up lady who can look after herself independently. Coming June, surely Amalina would leave them to continue her tertiary education. So indirectly, PLKN training programme has also provided the training ground for the couple in preparing for the eventual separation of Amalina who would then pursue her tertiary education away from home.

In order to douse their sorrows, so both Wan Mansur and Noraini visited Amalina at the Bukit Besar Camp every Saturday without fail. There were not simple social visits but there were instead more like humanitarian aid programs. They would bring along favourite foods of Amalina that would also cater for the needs of the other trainees. As such, every Saturday, Amalina and closed friends would wait anxiuosly at the camp without touching the camp's foods. On the other hand Noraini has also to endure five grueling hours of waiting without going to the squatting toilets which were sacred to her.

Under the watchful eyes and concern of her parents and also due to her capability as an able platoon leader, Amalina has completed her PLKN training with flying colours. Definitely both her parents attended her passing out parade. If ever there were any award for parents with the most number of visits to the camp, surely both Wan Mansur and Noraini would win handsomely ahead of their close rival that was the Indian couple from Kuala ketil.

Passing out parade

In contrast to the parents of Amalina, Lin's parents did not show any sorrowful reactions to Lin's departure. However both Mokhtar and Rohani were worried about Lin's allergy towards spicy foods. It seemed that PLKN Camps serve only two categories of foods i.e. vegetarian and the normal Malaysian foods. However they were consoled by the Camp Commandant that it would take only a week for any trainee to adjust to the new environment.

Unfortunately, on the fourth day at the PLKN Camp, Lin collapsed while on the parade ground due to over exhaustion but not because of her dislikes to the training. Luckily for Lin, at the same time she was offered a place for a Japanese/MARA preparatory course at Wisma Belia in Kuala Lumpur. With that concrete excuse, Lin left the PLKN Camp one week after reporting at the camp. Although she was offered a place for the Japanese/MARA program, in Unisel and Japan, she graciously refused the offer. It seems that Lin is the eventual winner as she has gained tremendously from both worlds of her two training episodes which she did not even pursue to the end.

Coming back to our first trainee Alin, all the members of Haji Yaacob's family would surely vouch with me that PLKN training in Setiu, Terengganu has done a total make over for Alin. Due to his capabilty, Alin was also elected at his Platoon leader. After the completion of his PLKN training , Alin who used to prefer western foods rather than the traditional Malay foods has experienced a round about turn of 360%. Since after completing his training, Alin began to prefer Malay delicacy such as nasi lemak which was sacred and alien to him before. Nami and Mat has only visited Alin once at the PLKN camp at Setiu.

Apart from that, he also began to take a deep interest in the Malay culture. He even took part actively in cultural performances of his University and he could also dance the Zapin effortlessly. In his final year at his University, Alin was even elected as the President of University Malaysia Pahang Cultural Association. In fact PLKN has changed Alin into a true blue blooded Malay who eats nasi lemak and appreciates Malay culture. Kudos to PLKN for the total make over of Alin. Nami should by now feels relief as Alin surely now prefers a Malay Terengganu lass rather than any Western lass who cannot consume nasi lemak and dance the Zapin.