DPM: Give youth a chance to lead (Updated)

KUALA LUMPUR: Youth in Malaysia should be given the opportunity to participate in leading the country along with current national leaders.
Stating this, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said youth should be seen as leaders of today as well as in the future.
"Right now, everybody has to take the lead and opportunity must be given to youth leaders," he said.
"They should not only be allowed to participate in politics, but should also be given the opportunity to be among the national leadership," he said in his speech at the National Youth Day celebration at Universiti Putra Malaysia here.
Also present was Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.
Ahmad Zahid said he would be giving his support to such a concept and hoped that action would be taken by all to ensure the youth's participation.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid also suggested for power to be given to Khairy's ministry to revive the Malaysia Youth Entrepreneur Fund.
He said with the fund's revival, he would propose for the government to contribute at least RM500 million to the fund.
"Although the fund might be held by other financial institutions, we hope empowerment be given to the Youth and Sports Ministry (to manage the fund)," he said.
"We understand the limited employment opportunities for university graduates.
"We hope with the RM500 million allocation, the youth will be empowered in entrepreneurship," he said.
Ahmad Zahid also pointed out that the government has tabled the new youth policy to the Cabinet, which would see youth age lowered to 30 years in 2018.
"We hope with the new policy, more youth from higher learning institutions will involve themselves directly to enhance youth movements in Malaysia," he said.