THE youth should not be treated as the leaders of the future but instead should be given leadership roles today, said Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

The youth and sports minister said the government is looking at ways to have youth take on roles as directors in the boards of government linked companies.

The minister said such moves are not unprecedented, citing Khazanah Nasional Bhd managing director Shahril Ridza Ridzuan who was mandated to lead Malaysia Resources Corp Bhd during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

Syed Saddiq, 26, said this is proof that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes in in uplifting youth.

“We have to normalise the leadership of youth because they’re the future,” he said while delivering his speech at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia’s National Youth Day 2019 event.

However, he said the country will not make much progress unless bread and butter issues such as minimum wages are addressed.

Syed Saddiq also disagreed with opinions that the youth are picky in their choice of jobs and is demanding when it comes to expected salaries, especially dirty, dangerous and demeaning jobs (3D).

He said if such notions were true, there will be no Malaysian youths taking up such jobs in South Korea or resorting to picking fruit in Australia.

“We cannot spoon feed them but those who are employed should be aided so that they can improve their living,” he said, adding that the government will work towards addressing the issue.

On top of that, the government will also amend the Youth Societies and Youth Development Act 2007.

The amended bill, which will be debated in Parliament in its coming meeting, will include the redefinition of the youth age bracket.

Following the amendment, those aged above 30 will no longer be categorised as youth as the  redefined age bracket will include only those aged between 15 and 30 years-old.

Currently, those aged between 15 to 40 are recognised as youth.

Syed Saddiq said the age bracket of 30-35 will be considered the transitional period away from the youth category. – May 15, 2019.