PUTRAJAYA, Feb 13 ― Laboratories to revamp the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) will take into account technological advances such as the Internet to be more relevant, said Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein today.

The minister said that the five-week-long laboratories to study improvements to the currently suspended programme will also aim to train youths on how to engage in political discourse and find methods to expand the PLKN beyond building patriotism.

“At the moment, we have 70 participants consisting of camp operators and former trainees. We would involved government agencies, ministries, parents and many more,” he said.

Titled “Onboarding Session Transformation Lab”, Hishammuddin said the discourses will run from February 23 to March 26 and will include both government agencies and the public.

As part of the revisions made to Budget 2015, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the suspension of the PLKN as it would help the government to save RM500 million.

Putrajaya promised a completely revamped module next year when the programme resumes.