Govt To Seek Data On Youths For Accurate Intervention Minister

---

 



The government is working towards targeted, data-based interventions ultimately aimed at improving social conditions affecting youths.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, at a joint press conference with Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, said the latest numbers related to youths’ social and health issues are necessary for better coordination and implementation of related initiatives.
“Today is our first meeting involving 29 ministries. The last committee meeting was held in 2018.
“Now, under the deputy prime minister (Zahid), we want more frequent meetings this year to bring together all ministries,” she said after an inter-ministry Youth Development cabinet committee held in Parliament today.
“In the next meeting, we have requested for all the ministries - particularly the Home Ministry and Health Ministry - to present the latest data involving social ills and health problems among youths, so together we can come up with accurate data-based interventions.
“We are aiming for coordination (of activities) through this committee,” said Yeoh.
Lower index score
Zahid, who chaired the meeting, noted a new direction for youth development with Yeoh leading the ministry.
He cited a reduced cumulative average score recorded under the Malaysian Youth Index - an annual study conducted by the Malaysian Youth Development Research Institute among 15 to 30-year-olds - covering various aspects including access and participation in related initiatives. 
(from left to right) Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, Human Resources Minister V Sivakumar, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abdul Halim“The reduced score is linked to lesser awareness and commitment among youths in political, nationalism, and democratic activities.
“This is despite a change in political awareness levels among youths during the last general election,” said Zahid.
He said efforts to improve the score through engaging more youth groups must be done particularly in matters related to the concept of government and democracy.
Zahid, who is also Umno president, said such engagements must also take into account Malaysia’s multi-cultural and multi-religious landscape that celebrates differences towards promoting unity. 
Further, he said specific matters discussed include the 2.64 million youths involved in the gig economy and future opportunities through reskilling and upskilling programmes under the Human Resource Ministry.
This includes a proposal to transfer the management of 22 National Youth Skills Institute (IKBN) from the Youth and Sports Ministry to the Human Resource Ministry, he added.
Speaking to reporters later, Yeoh said the targeted data based interventions aimed to reduce overlap among various ministries with youth-based programmes.
“When you have too many (similar) programmes, it means there will be budget wasted. 
“Maybe 50 people (participants) here and 50 people there, but among them could be 20 of the same people,” she said. - Mkini

---