KUALA LUMPUR - The number of youth aged under 30 in associations has declined to 544,940 as of Feb 28, representing a 45 per cent drop following the enforcement of a new age limit under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019 (Act A1602).
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the decrease occurred because individuals aged between 30 and 40 are no longer categorised as youth and are therefore not eligible to become ordinary members of youth organisations.
He said records from the Registrar of Youth Societies (ROY) showed that membership prior to the enforcement of the amended age limit stood at 991,729.
"Although there has been a reduction in membership numbers, the implementation of this policy has produced several positive effects on the structure and sustainability of youth organisations.
"It provides greater opportunities for the younger generation to lead, reduces the dominance of older groups and accelerates the process of renewal and rejuvenation in youth leadership,” he said when replying to a question from Senator Nik Mohamad Abduh Nik Abdul Aziz during the Dewan Negara sitting today.
Nik Mohamad Abduh wanted to know the latest status of the implementation of the policy lowering the youth age limit to 30, which took effect on Jan 1, as well as the actual impact of the policy on membership numbers and the sustainability of youth associations, particularly in rural and low-income areas.
The amendment to the act sees the youth age limit reduced to between 15 and below 30 years, while the age limit for heads of youth organisations or office bearers is set between 18 and below 30, with the tenure limited to four years only.
Mordi said that through the amendment, the implementation of policies and programmes has become more targeted at the real needs of youth, while organisations have become more dynamic and relevant to current challenges.
According to Mordi, to encourage the establishment of new youth organisations, particularly in rural or low-income communities, the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has waived registration and constitutional amendment fees for youth organisations until Dec 31, 2027.
In addition, KBS through ROY has implemented compliance programmes such as the Santuni Pertubuhan Belia programme, the Strengthening of Required Information Workshop (MYKD) and the Act 668 Workshop to ensure the sustainability of youth organisations in line with the enforcement of Act A1602. - BERNAMA