KUALA LUMPUR: The Perdana Fellows Programme, an initiative under the Youth and Sports Ministry, will be revived after a two-year hiatus and will run from June to October 2026
Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the programme, introduced in 2013, was suspended in 2024 and 2025 to allow the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia to conduct a comprehensive study.
"After 10 years, a study was needed to assess the programme's effectiveness.
"The study found that 95% of participants made notable improvements in leadership, communication and problem-solving skills," he said in reply to a question from Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (PN-Kuala Kangsar) during Question Time.
Iskandar Dzulkaranain had asked the ministry when the Perdana Fellowship Programme would be resumed and the improvements introduced.
Mordi said that 88.7% of participants said the programme aided their career development, while 80% noted a positive impact on professional networking.
On improvements, Mordi said 62 participants would be selected as mentees and given four-month placements in four key offices namely the Minister's Office, Deputy Minister's Office, Office of the Chief Secretary to the Government and the Public Service Department director-general's office.
He said the selection process would be strengthened with a centralised assessment after interviews and psychometric tests. Participants will also have to sign an integrity pledge to ensure compliance with the law.
"This edition is only open to graduates, unlike earlier editions which accepted final-year students," he added.
The Perdana Fellows Programme aims to provide high-potential youth with early exposure to policy-making, governance and leadership at the highest levels.
