Minister: Youths needed at decision-making level
CYBERJAYA: Youths aged 35 and below should be given more opportunities to be appointed to decision-making level, said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.
These include positions in government agencies, companies’ board of directors as well as local councils or even as village heads.
Without imposing any target such as 30% women participation at decision-making level, he said he had asked the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia to provide a comprehensive national youth index including the group at that level.
He said the index, expected to be ready in January, would give a clear picture on the position of youths currently.
“For example as village heads, there may be only 5% of youths in decision-making positions. So we want to understand why it is so,” he told a media conference after a dialogue session on “Empowering and Cultivation of Young Entrepreneurs” here yesterday.
Syed Saddiq said the participation of youths in decision-making would ensure their voice was heard.
“Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (AirAsia Group chief executive officer) has (celebrity) Neelofa to represent youths in the board of directors. He said the move has paid off,” he said.
Entrepreneur Development Minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof who was also at the event said the involvement of youths in national development was very important and that the government would act as a facilitator to raise their participation.
However, he said the government could not form policies to force corporate companies and GLC to appoint youths into their board of directors.