PUTRAJAYA, March 20 – Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi wants the content of the Rakan Muda programme to be made a national agenda by adopting a comprehensive approach to ensure that the leisure time of youths is filled with beneficial activities.
He said the Rakan Muda programme could also be a platform for strengthening national integration and racial unity.
Ahmad Zahid said he is emphasising this matter following a drop in the Malaysia Youth Index score from 48.49 per cent in 2021 to 42.43 per cent in 2022.
“This drop in score shows that youths are less involved in activities during leisure time. If this issue is not resolved, it is feared youths will engage in unbeneficial activities and become a cause of social decline,” he said in a statement after chairing the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Youth Development at the Parliament building today.
He said better coordination between ministries and agencies is needed to ensure that all programme data and participation in Rakan Muda activities can be consolidated to achieve the target physical and digital participation of 11 million this year.
He also noted various issues faced by youths and the need for intervention and holistic empowerment plans involving the economic and social sectors based on youth data (youth dashboard).
He said among the issues faced by youths are job opportunities, drug abuse, pornography, cyberbullying, mental health, finance, and identity and democracy.
