YOUTH empowerment is among the focus of the Youth and Sports Ministry in Budget 2023, to be tabled on February 24, in line with the Undi18 policy.

Hannah Yeoh said the ministry plans to implement programmes to improve political literacy among youth following the increase in the number of new voters in the general election.

“We need to have programmes to ensure that when these youth go out to vote, they know the difference between MPs and state assemblymen.

“This is all about education, and we need to provide that knowledge to youth,” she told reporters after launching the Gotong Royong Perdana programme at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Educational Institution Quarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

With regard to the rising cost of living, especially in urban areas, she said the ministry will focus on organising programmes to equip youth with skills that can help them generate additional income and diversify their career options.

Yeoh said one initiative organised via the Skills For Life programme under her ministry is a grooming workshop, which will be expanded to cover technical skills such as air-conditioner installation.

She said the ministry plans to organise swimming classes for the B40 group as the Health Ministry’s data showed that nearly 500 deaths due to drowning were recorded among children.

“The Youth and Sports Ministry has the facilities, so we need to assist the B40 group in learning this skill. If we don’t utilise the facilities for those in need, the country will end up on the losing end because children are the assets of our country,” she said.

The Segambut MP said she has also allocated RM10,000 for recreational programmes and other programmes that will be implemented by the Taman Tun Dr Ismail Educational Institution Quarters. – Bernama, February 12, 2023.