While many university students use their semester break to rest and recharge, identical twins from Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) have chosen a more demanding path.
Alia Maisara Noorizun and her younger twin, Alia Maizura, both 23, volunteered to participate in the 45-day National Service Training Programme, or Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN) 3.0, during their three-month semester break.
The students reported for PLKN 3.0 Series 3/2026 at the National Service Training Branch Camp located at the 504th Territorial Army Regiment in Bukit Keteri, Padang Besar, Perlis.
Rather than spending their break at home, the sisters saw the national training programme as an opportunity to gain new knowledge, challenge themselves and make productive use of their time away from university.
“We are currently on a three-month semester break, so we decided to take this opportunity to join PLKN, gain new knowledge and make better use of our free time,” Alia Maisara said.
She admitted feeling nervous about undergoing the intensive 45-day training. However, her curiosity and determination to experience something different ultimately outweighed her concerns.
For Alia Maizura, joining PLKN 3.0 presents an opportunity to discover whether she can adapt to the programme’s physically and mentally demanding activities, including marching drills, discipline-based training and team-building exercises.
Their decision reflects the value of learning beyond the classroom, where students develop resilience, discipline, communication, teamwork and leadership through real-life experiences.
These qualities complement UniKL’s emphasis on holistic student development, technical education, graduate employability and industry-ready talent.
The participation of the UniKL twins is closely aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4: Quality Education and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by encouraging responsible citizenship, discipline, national unity and constructive participation in society.
Note: This article is adapted from a report first published by Kosmo! Online on 11 July 2026.
