More than RM150mil to be allocated for youth programmes, says Dr M

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is awaiting a response from the bank and seeks to recoup funds believed to be lost through 1MDB.

BANGI: More than RM150mil will be allocated to develop the Youth Power programme, including sports and recreation facilities for the youth, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"I have been informed the Youth and Sports Ministry will spur several new initiatives to champion the youth.

"The Youth Power Club will be a platform to unify all youth and sports movements to help our youth to focus on community activities, while training them as leaders at the grassroots level.

"For this, more than RM50mil will be set aside in 2019 and 2020 for the implementation of the Youth Power programme," he announced during his speech at the National Youth Day 2019 celebration at

Dewan Canselor Tun Abdul Razak in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia on Wednesday (May 15).

He said the allocation includes RM7.4mil to set up Youth Power clubs in 222 Parliament constituencies nationwide.

He said registered youth organisations would be able to apply for grants under the programme, including youth organisations that had previously not received any government assistance.

Dr Mahathir also announced RM100mil under a special fund next year to develop sport and recreational facilities for the rural youth.

"This will widen the access to sport and recreation facilities to all our youths," he said, adding that the projects would be jointly developed with the private sector.

The Prime Minister also announced the government had agreed to appoint a youth as a senator in Dewan Negara.

He added the appointment will be made soon, and it will be a youth who is qualified and has vast experience on youth-related issues.

Earlier in his speech, Dr Mahathir paid tribute to the nation's youngsters for being bold to vote for change in the general election last year.

"Adults and senior citizens would not have been able to make that change on their own; without the support and drive of the youths," he said.

Also present were Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Malaysian Youth Council president Jufitri Johar.

Dr Mahathir later presented the National Youth Awards to recipients.

The National Youth Award 2018 (special category) was presented to Mohd Redha Rozlan, who won the Ninja Challenge League in Perth, Australia, last year.

Dr Siti Khayriyyah Mohd Hanafiah was also conferred the award for winning the FameLab International Championship for her research in the use of antibody antigens to diagnose tuberculosis.

Both recipients of the special category award also received RM10,000.

The National Youth Award 2019 (special category) was presented to Azzrulkhan Hasrullah Matsah, who had scaled 30 hills and mountains in the country, including reaching the Mount Everest main base camp despite suffering from polio.

Winner of the 2019 International Tilawah Al-Quran event, Nor Farhatul Fairuzag Panut, was also presented with the award.

Both recipients of the special category award also received RM10,000.

Persatuan Belia Setia Pakat was presented with the National Youth Award 2018 (youth organisation category) and RM50,000.

The National Youth Award 2019 (youth organisation category) and RM50,000 was presented to Pertubuhan Beia Beliawanis Bukit Kuda.