Youths Have A Big Role In Determining Nation's Future - M'sian PM

KUALA LUMPUR, May 15 (Bernama) -- Youths who comprise 45 per cent of Malaysia's total population have a major role in determining the nation's future, said Najib Razak. Recognising this fact, the Malaysian Prime Minister said the government had always been engaging youths for their views and aspirations in every plan made. "It is inevitable that the nation's future will eventually be in the hands of the youths, whether the national wellbeing and prosperity enjoyed by all Malaysian citizens will continue in future, depends on you (youths) as the inheritors of the national leadership. "...as such the trust placed on the shoulders of our youths is extremely heavy," he said in his message in conjunction with National Youth Day, themed 'Making Tomorrow Better than Today," which will be celebrated Tuesday. He said as 12.5 million or 45 per cent of the population were in the youth age group, naturally it required wise formulation of policies and programmes on the part of the government to ensure their potential could be developed optimally and orderly. Najib said towards this end, the government had ensured that all initiatives for youths would involve the principles of engagement, participation and empowerment, with adequate allocation to protect the generation. The Prime Minister said a total of US$64.80 million (RM200 million) had been allocated solely for skills training of youths who were out of the educational system through programmes such as "Strategic Action Youth 1Malaysia" or "SAY 1Malaysia." "A US$64.80 million allocation was provided under "My Creative Venture Capital' to provide youths capitla to start businesses based on new ideas and innovation while a macro loan scheme through Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM Initiative Financing Scheme) is in place to encourage female youths to go into business while various housing and loan schemes allow the younger generation to own houses without having to pay deposits to developers," he said. Najib said Youth Day was a recognition of all youths while National Youth Day which was celebrated every year was a symbol of the government's recognition of the younger generation as a national development partner. The Prime Minister said the assembly of a million youths which would be held from May 23 to 27 in Putrajaya would be a manifestation of the government's recognition to make Putrajaya as a centre for youths to exhibit their respective energy and creativity. As such, he urged all youths to help build Putrajaya into a vibrant city as envisaged by our past leaders. "With the garnering of efforts we can make tomorrow a better than today," he added. -- BERNAMA