BERA (Pahang), May 10 (Bernama) -- More youths in the country have been urged to become members of youth organisations as out of the 11.1 million youths in the country only two million are members.

Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob, said those who did not participate in youth organisations were vulnerable to exposure to unhealthy activities.

Ismail, who is Bera Member of Parliament, said his ministry will prepare a complete youth database to plan and organise organisational programmes to meet youth needs.

He said this at the launch of the National Youth Day and Week at the Felda Sebertak which was officiated by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, here on Saturday.

"In the present situation, we need sacrifices from all quarters to drive the country's youths forward and avert failure on our part as leaders to do so," Ismail said.

He said youth organisations should be attentive to changes around them in the context of globalisation to attract more youths to take part in their activities

Ismail also repeated his announcement yesterday that youths who wish to start a business now need not get a guarantor for their loans under the ministry's Youth Economic Fund.

He said this was for loans of RM15,000 and below and the move was to encourage more youths to be entrepreneurs and businessmen.

Ismail said besides providng loans his ministry would implement programmes that are pragmatic and holistic for youth development.

-- BERNAMA