Youth leaders seek govt hand in honing skills for emerging roles
KUALA LUMPUR: Six policy proposals championing youth voices were presented in a roundtable with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo.
It was aimed at steering Malaysia’s growth direction for the next decade through artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, green-economy access and skills upgrading.
Organised by the Perdana Fellows Alumni Association (PFAA) ahead of the Youth Economic Forum (YEF) 2026, the session at Menara MOF Inc highlighted the role of AI and the green economy in boosting productivity in traditional sectors, developing local talents and improving public services.
PFAA president Fanitsyara Kam Phon said the roundtable was a continuation of discussions with Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong on Aug 14.
Fanitsyara said they would refine youth-driven ideas with the government and industry before submitting a final policy paper to the minister at YEF 2026 on Oct 3 in Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre.
“For today’s session, we hope to get feedback from the ministry and discuss how the policies can bring changes to Malaysia.
“We already held a separate roundtable with employers and industry players to ensure these proposals reflected the views from all parties,” she told reporters yesterday.
In line with the YEF 2026 theme “Decoding the Next Decade: Advancing Malaysia’s Economic Frontier”, the proposals seek to ensure technological advancement and investment translate into wider economic opportunities and tangible benefits for businesses, workers and the people.
The session brought together nearly 20 participants from PFAA, the YEF committee, industry and youth leaders, including representatives from sponsor partners Moomoo Securities Malaysia Sdn Bhd and Gamuda Berhad, as well as the Malaysian Youth Council and the Kesatuan Mahasiswa Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.
The six proposals are AI for Every Business, Every Malaysian to expand AI adoption among SMEs and traditional sectors; a Green Economy Access Fund to help youth enter the green value chain; a National Skills Upgrading Credit for Youth enabling modular certificates to stack toward professional qualifications or master’s degrees.
Others are a National Foreign Direct Investment Mandate linking FDI to local talent development and supplier opportunities; AI for Transforming Public Service Delivery to cut waiting times and simplify access to government services and a National Youth Economic Action Council to give youth a permanent platform in economic policymaking.
Fanitsyara said research showed more than 95% of “buyers” now use AI and digital tools while demand was shifting towards the green ecosystem where future jobs are expected to concentrate.
She added that many young people are pressing the government not only for salary-related support but for help in building relevant skill sets that match emerging roles.
On the policy front, Fanitsyara outlined two key digital-related resolutions: a tax incentive for every successful AI use case and a micro-credit stacking scheme for digital and AI skills that can eventually be translated into a master’s degree.
She also said this year’s forum reached a milestone with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim confirmed as the first speaker.
