MALAYSIAN youths will be able to enjoy a one-off rebate of RM200 for the purchase of one 3G smartphone from an authorised dealer through the Youth Communication Package, announced by the prime minister yesterday.
Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the package would be introduced by the government with the cooperation of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commmission and telecommunication companies to enable youths to access the information highway.
This is because the majority of the 22 per cent of Malaysians who use the smartphone to surf the Internet are youths.
The special package is for youths aged 21 to 30 years with a monthly income of RM3,000 and below.
“A sum of RM300 million is allocated for this to benefit 1.5 million youths,” said Najib, who is also Finance Minister, when tabling the 2013 Budget in Parliament, here.
Najib also disclosed that in efforts to produce a young generation with towering personality and integrity, as well as creative, innovative and competitive attributes, the government would launch the Y-Creative Programme involving youth associations nationwide.
“To recognise youths’ role in national development, the government will launch the 1Malaysia For Youth (1M4U) Blue Ocean Competition to enable youths to present creative and innovative ideas through competition at the local, state and national levels.
“The best three ideas will be awarded funds from the 1Malaysia Volunteer Fund,” he said.
Najib’s aid to assist young information and communication technology (ICT) entrepreneurs, a New Entrepreneur Foundation would be established with an initial allocation of RM50 million to provide training and guidance programmes.
In addition, a Young Entrepreneur Fund will be set up with an allocation of RM50 million from the SME Bank.
The soft loans, aimed at youths aged 30 and below, offers a two per cent interest rate subsidy for loans of up to RM100,000 with a seven-year repayment period. — Bernama