The Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) has clarified its stance on the implementation of the youth age cap of 30 years, refuting the Youth and Sports Minister’s claim that the council made a “U-turn” on its position.
In a strongly worded statement, MBM said the Minister’s remarks during the July 22 parliamentary session, in response to a question raised by the Member of Parliament for Kuching, were inaccurate and failed to reflect the realities faced by thousands of youth organisations nationwide.
“From the outset, MBM has advocated that any restructuring of youth leadership under the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007 (Act 668) must be done in phases, strategically, and with dedicated funding to minimise disruption at the grassroots level,” said MBM president Mohd Izzat Afifi Abdul Hamid.
He also disputed the Minister’s claim in Parliament that MBM had received RM1.5 million in transitional funding from the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS), describing it as misleading. According to MBM, no specific funds have been allocated for youth leadership transition programmes. Instead, MBM receives only administrative and “Rakan Muda” programme funding focused on youth lifestyle initiatives.
“The RM1.5 million referenced is part of a special allocation from the Prime Minister, taken from the RM3 million announced for national youth leadership transition programmes,” Izzat explained.
The council also raised concerns about the lack of consistent engagement on the issue. It noted that the Joint MBM–KBS Youth Age Cap Transition Committee had only convened twice — in February 2023 and September 2024 — with no further follow-up discussions since.
MBM reiterated that its appeal to revisit the January 1, 2026 deadline for full implementation of the youth age limit was not an attempt to reject the policy outright, but to ensure organisational stability and the continued development of young leaders.
“Without a comprehensive transition mechanism, there is a serious risk to the continuity of leadership, programme execution, and the financial sustainability of youth organisations. Our call is for a well-structured roadmap, not resistance to reform,” said Izzat.
The council urged the government to resume discussions and prioritise a collaborative approach to implementing the age cap policy that supports, rather than destabilises, the youth development ecosystem.
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