KUALA LUMPUR: The revamped Rakan Muda programme saw 2.5 million youths participating in various events across the country, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
The Youth and Sports Ministry said it is aware of the increasingly stressful lifestyle at present and that is why it introduced various initiatives when it revamped Rakan Muda in 2023.
“The initiative has gotten a very encouraging response, where last year, 2.5 million youths participated in Rakan Muda programmes across the country,” it said in a Parliamentary written reply dated Aug 18.
The Youth and Sports Ministry said it organised 187 mental health and emotional wellbeing programmes through the Rakan Prihatin programme.
“An effectiveness study will be conducted from 2025 to 2026 to look at the impact on the development of social capital, youth networks and programme improvements in future,” it added.
The Youth and Sports Ministry was responding to Datuk Seri Dr Wee Jeck Seng (BN-Tanjung Piai), who asked about the effectiveness of the Rakan Muda programme.
The Rakan Muda programme, which was launched in October 1994, was revamped in June 2023 to include 10 lifestyles.
The 10 new lifestyles are Rakan Demokrasi, Rakan Litar, Rakan Aktif, Rakan Bumi, Rakan Digital, Rakan Ekspresi, Rakan Muzik, Rakan Mahir, Rakan Niaga and Rakan Prihatin.
