THE ROADMAP for the setting up of a Youth Parliament in Malaysia will be handed over to Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia today for fine-tuning.
Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said although a Youth Parliament had each been established in some countries such as India, Australia, the United Kingdom and in Europe, Malaysia needed a model that would be suitable for the country.
The roadmap also touched on the age limit for membership to the proposed Youth Parliament, he said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday in reply to a supplementary question from Datuk Mohamad Aziz (BN-Sri Gading) on the mechanism for the establishment of the Youth Parliament.
“We have not decided on the age limit.
Some people have suggested 15 to 40 years but many countries regard those aged 40 are not youths anymore.
“According to the United Nations’ definition, youths are those aged 15 to 24. But we have not decided whether the UN definition of youth is suitable for our set-up,” he said.
On the selection of youths as Youth Parliament members, Ahmad Shabery did not agree that the appointment be made by the minister although selection through a general election would be costly.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had proposed the setting up of a Youth Parliament when speaking at the opening of the ‘Gathering of One Million Youths’ in conjunction with this year’s Youth Day celebration in Putrajaya on May 28 to gather views and suggestions from youths and to know their needs and tastes.
Earlier, to an original question from Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang (PAS-Marang), Ahmad Shabery said the ‘Gathering of One Million Youths’ had unearthed their potential, leadership qualities and creativity, as well as built team spirit and unity.
— Bernama