CREATING jobs, reducing living costs and improving the education system are the government’s main focus to regain youth support for Pakatan Harapan (PH), said Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

Admitting that youth support has deteriorated since PH won the general election in 2018, he said the coalition will continue with its efforts to win back support.

“We will continue to work for them and try to solve their woes.

“Based on a political survey, the three main issues that we need to solve for them are job creation, lower cost of living and better education system,” he said today after meeting Bersatu youth members in Kg Baru, Kuala Lumpur.

Syed Saddiq said PH needs youth support, especially after consecutive defeat of five by-elections last year.

In these by-elections, PH lost in almost all streams of young voters.

He said Putrajaya will launch Malaysia@Work in the second quarter of the year to create about 300,000 jobs.

A total of RM6.5 billion has been allocated for this, he added.

“The cabinet has discussed this for a while. The prime minister and the finance minister have agreed. In the last cabinet meeting, the Employees Provident Fund also presented a paper on this programme.”

He also said the government is looking at the best solution to ease the debt situation of student loans given under the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN).

“On Monday, I will be meeting with the people from PTPTN to find solutions. We want to find ways to recover loans, as well as to continue providing loans for needy students.

“The PTPTN chairman is very cooperative and open to dialogues.

“We need to discuss with the Finance Ministry for additional funding, and from Education Ministry if they can channel some of their funding.

“We are almost there. Let’s just wait for the decision from PTPTN and cabinet.”

Syed Saddiq is being challenged for the Bersatu youth chief’s post, with detractors saying he has not done much for the youths.

They have blamed him for PH’s failure in getting youth support in the previous five by-elections. – February 16, 2020.