Kuching: Feelings of anxiety and anticipation permeated the air at the Civic Centre here where more than 800 National Service Training Programme (PLKN) trainees registered for their respective camps yesterday.

The registration was the first for this year, and was for trainees who had been selected to undergo the programme at training centres in Sematan and Serian as well in the peninsula.

For many of the trainees, who would be undertaking the programme for three months, this would be the first time they would be away from their families.

They were, however, optimistic that through PLKN they would gain new experiences while at the same time improve themselves physically and mentally.

For Leo Michael, not only did he look forward to the training activities but he also hoped to improve his self-discipline and emerge as a tough youth through the rigorous training for the next three months.

"In my opinion, PLKN will help me improve myself in terms of discipline and guide me to be a better person," said the former student of SMK Wira Penrissen who will be undergoing his national service (NS) in Serian here.

Also undergoing NS in Serian was Siti Khadirah Abdul Kadir who admitted that she felt butterflies in her stomach upon registering herself for the PLKN.

"I have this sense of excitement and fear all rolled into one about what I'm about to experience after this but nonetheless, I look forward to what is in store for me and I will try my best to adapt and assimilate myself in the new environment," she said, while being accompanied by her mother Diwara Awai.

The former student of SMK Tunku Abdul Rahman Kuching also pointed out that this was the first time that she would be away from her family.

"I will miss them dearly and look forward to seeing them as they have promised to visit me every weekend during my stint there."

Former student of SMK St Joseph, Ashleigh Ngiam, said one of the activities that he looked forward to upon reaching Putra Sentosa training centre was the opportunity to experience the shooting clinic.

"This will be a great experience that I am most excited about as not everyone would have such an opportunity," he said.

Meanwhile, PLKN J Zone director Lt Colonel Rahamen Wok told The Borneo Post that the trainees who registered yesterday would report to training centres in West Malaysia; namely Banting, Sepang, Beranang, Semenyih, Kuala Langat, Alor Gajah, Rembau, and Port Dickson as well as in Putra Sentosa training centre in Sematan and Serian training centre.

"Overall, 401 trainees from Sarawak will undergo NS in west Malaysia while 826 trainees from west Malaysia will have the training in Sarawak," he said.

Registration continues today where trainees will be registering for PLKN based in Bau, Semenyih and Kuala Langat while tomorrow will see the registration of trainees to be based in Puncak Permai in Bau and Putra Sentosa in Sematan.

--Courtesy of The Borneo Post Online