By Amanda L
KUCHING, Sept 15: Sarawak will retain its current definition of youth as those aged 40 and below for the time being, rather than immediately adopting the national 15-to-30 age bracket, says Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development (MYSED) Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Although the national youth age limit came into effect on Jan 1, Sarawak retains the power under the Federal Constitution to determine its own youth age definition.
“Youth affairs are under the Concurrent List in the Federal Constitution. Previously, we had 45 and below, then we reduced it to 40 and below. In the future, we can consider reducing it further to 35, or eventually 30.
“We have not amended it, and if we want to make an amendment, we will not rush through it. We are still following our own approach,” he said when officiating the Sarawak-level National Youth Consultative Council (MPBN) meeting here today.
Despite keeping the current limit intact, the minister endorsed the underlying goal of empowering younger demographics, framing it as an essential step toward leadership succession.
“This shift shouldn’t be viewed merely as an adjustment to an age bracket, but as an opportunity to build a robust pipeline of future leaders,” he explained.
Abdul Karim urged veteran youth leaders to actively clear pathways for younger members, stressing the importance of a smooth knowledge transfer to prevent leadership voids.
He highlighted that the true measure of a youth organisation isn’t total membership, but how effectively it develops talent. Rather than expecting young people to be fully formed leaders before giving them real responsibility, organisations must offer hands-on experience in programme management and decision-making.
“When they make mistakes, guide them. Don’t wait around for perfect leaders, because leadership is forged through trial and experience,” he said.
He added that cultivating this next generation is especially vital as the State advances its broader socio-economic development goals, requiring capable young leaders ready to drive progress across State administration, local communities and public service. — DayakDaily
