Johor Youth Council tells Syed Saddiq to stop interfering in state affairs

JOHOR BARU: Johor Youth Council (MBNJ) has told Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pic) to stop interfering in state affairs.

Its president Md Salleheen Mohamad said the council was looking closely over all the development pertaining to the youth especially with the decision made by the state government over the last 48 hours.

"What are the Federal Government and state government trying to gamble here where they are making inconsistent decisions, as if there is a conflict.

"The federal government, especially the Youth and Sports Ministry, must find the reason why Johor and other states are still capping the youth age limit to 40 years," he said in a statement here Wednesday (July 10).

He pointed out that the ministry, under the leadership of Syed Saddiq, was not serious and sincere in handling issues relating to youth holistically.

Md Salleheen stressed that MBNJ has always been firm against limiting the youth age to 30 as it blocks the development of self potential among youth from being involved in youth development agenda involving economy, social, community, and strengthening volunteerism.

He added that the council would like to advise Syed Saddiqq not to meddle into state affairs as Johor has a Mentri Besar, executive councillors, state administrative officers and youth council bodies to deal with youth issues.

"It is better for Syed Saddiq to focus on other pressing issues including promises made towards the youth such as PTPTN, employment opportunities especially on 400,000 Malaysians working in Singapore, cost of living and housing matters," he said.

On Monday (July 8), Johor had announced it would maintain its categorisation of youth for its polices as those between 15 and 40 despite the federal government's move to lower the age limit to 30.

Johor, at the time, joined Selangor and Sarawak in maintaining the youth age cap at 40.

On Tuesday (July 9), the Johor government changed its stand to lower the youth age limit to 30.

Less than 24 hours later, state Youth, Sports, Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperatives Committee chairman Sheikh Umar Bagharib Ali issued another statement on the same day, saying Johor would maintain its youth age limit at 40 following "advice from several parties".