Experience.

    Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN)

        

        March 18 2017, the date that I went to National Service program. It also called Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) in Bahasa Malaysia. Now I’m Wirawati. The camp is Kem PLKN Sinaran Suria located at Sungkai, Perak. It takes 3hours from Kuala Lumpur to reach the camp. I am happy that I was being chosen to enter the first batch in PLKN 2.0, series 14/2017. Why I like to join the program is because I want to gain experience and knowledge. I was there for 2 months.                                                                               

                          

                Deep in the jungle surrounded by mountains and hills

            I and my friend finally reach the destination. We registered and handed in required documents. All of us have checked our healthy and our bag by the coach. We just get briefed from the activities we do to the rules and regulations of the camp. Here we were given our designated dorms. There are 8 dorms for boys and girls each. I was given to stay at the first dorm which is near to the marching field. After I unpack my stuff, I go for lunch with my friend.

The students that join the program come from diffrent places such as Perak, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan. They will be another students coming on the next day to join the training. There are 15 students in my dorm, we are so close like family.

My dorm

       

Members in my dorm

All the activity started on Monday, March 20 2017

            

              I woke up at 4 in the morning because I need to queue for taking bath. Then at 5 AM, all PLKN participants needs to line up at the surau to perform prays for muslims. For non-muslim, they need to wait at the hall. After that I have my breakfast at 7 AM. Later at 10 AM I’m given a t-shirt, uniform and the boot. I and my friend also given a bed sheet and the entire thing that we need in our dorm. 

        

ALPHA👮

                 After that, we were divided into 4 'companies' namely Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. Girls from dorm 1 and dorm 2 and boys from dorm 1 and dorm 2 are in Alpha whereas girls from dorm 3 and dorm 4 and boys from dorm 3 and dorm 4 are in Bravo and so on until Charlie and Delta respectively. So I’m in group Alpha, Every dorm and company has a leader. There are two leaders which is one boy and one girl. The leader responsible to lead us, take care of us and to be the middle point between us and out coach.

This is my coach leader.

The hall and canteen

             Every day from Monday until Friday I had classes. There are 5 classes and I’m in the fourth class. Continuing on in the first month are mostly Character Building Classes. Apart from character building classes we had other subjects as well. Example, Physical Module, Nation Building Module, Character Building Module and Community Service Module. I enjoyed all the classes as there’s not only taking note on what we learn but we have so many other activity relate to the module. 

                    

My classmate

               Every afternoon after 2PM we had our marching until 4 PM. We had 5 meals per a day, breakfast, lunch, tea time, dinner and supper. We also had sport activity such as volleyball, netball and sepak takraw, badminton, netball, football and futsal.  After isyak prayer, we had a roll call. During the roll call our coach briefs us on the next day activity.

On Saturday, normally people from private collage came to our camp to give a briefing on the courses that they offered for the students. Once awhile on Saturday also we had a visit and outside. One of the Saturday we had our blood donation day.

As for Sundays, there will be a time period for Family Visits from 8.00 AM. to 5.00 PM. Parents must wear proper outfits and are not allowed to bring non-halal stuff. They are also not allowed to go to their child's dorms for whatever reasons.

Almost 1month the same activity applies. On the second month, the activity changed. Additional activity such as hand-to-hand combat, obstacle courses, abseiling, Flying Fox, canoeing, camping ("Wirajaya"). During Wirajaya, trainees will be also given mock missions such as search and rescue, night patrols, perimeter Guard, first aid and at night trainees have to guard their company flag from being stolen by instructors of other companies who would infiltrate their opponent companies' bases. Navigation, survival training and first aid training. I also learn about how to vote during elections.

abseiling. ready for the upcoming adventure!

                                                    

                                         

                                                                       

          My company, Alpha setup a camp for the activities. We were given tasks such as find live bugs, dig a rubbish hole, make a camp fire and create a parameter dividing the company camp from others. Later on we did a mock rescue operation.

                                                                      

 My group Alpha won overall activity competition and I’m so proud of my group. I miss all the moment with them!💖

            One week before the training finish, we go on to the sentimental part of the day. Trainers and trainees have a bonding good time. Some said sorry for this and that. Others cried, the music wasn't helping to stop the sadness either - it was a saxophone piece, if I'm not mistaken. There’s an Open Day for us to show our marching art to the parents and visitor, in conjunction with the closing of the PLKN 2.0 series 14/2017 program. 

        On the last night, we had a party night. Performances carried out by each of the company while the rest enjoy a sumptuous dinner. We had so much fun and the party ended about 3AM.

                   On the next morning, we had our last breakfast together. The bus is ready for us. I am so sad because we have to be apart and go back to our hometown.

                My experience there was really a memorable one. A lot of things I learns from this camp likes how to discipline, how to be brave, how to independence and how to cooperation with every teams in the group. 

prepared by : Shahirah