In an attempt to win over young voters in the next general election which will be called in the coming five months, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin today dished out a slew of youth-friendly proposals including cheaper licence fee for motorcyclists and amnesty for illegal motorcyclists who are facing legal action.

Dubbed as 1Malaysia Licence Assistance Programme (BL1M), Khairy said the project was conceived after the Umno Youth Urban Affairs Secretariat found out there are an estimated 200,000 motorcyclists, specifically young people, who do not hold licences.

NONE “It may be that they are careless, and it may be that the costs of obtaining a licence are too high. Many among them have been found guilty in court for riding without a licence, and they cannot afford legal representation.

“Others live in fear as arrest warrants have been issued against them. This cannot continue. We must accept the fact that many face this fate because they cannot pay the costs of obtaining a licence,” he explained in his policy speech at the Umno Youth general assembly this morning.

Hence the wing will work with the Road Transport Department, police and other agencies to offer motorcycle licences at RM199, which is 50 percent cheaper than the official cost, Khairy proudly announced, adding that a pioneer project has been launched in Pekan.

In addition, Khairy said the movement will also request that the government sponsors some of the BL1M applicants who come from low-income families so that they may obtain licences at no financial cost.

“We are also in the process of negotiation to allow those who have faced court action to be given amnesty through BL1M, such that they may be relieved of any fear of imprisonment.

“This is a special gift from Umno Youth to young people stuck in tough circumstances,” he said to a round of applause from the wing’s delegates.

‘Working on the details’

During a press conference later, Khairy revealed that the JPJ has given approval to conduct cheaper motorcyclists’ courses and now they are working on the details.

As for the amnesty proposal, he said the youth wing will bring the proposal to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz.

NONE “Give me a month or two,” Khairy ( left ) replied when asked how long before the proposal will be implemented, adding that the amnesty may benefit 5,000 illegal motorcyclists who are facing court action, subject to the discussions with the authorities.

BL1M was one of the 10 proposals put forward by the Rembau MP in his speech.

Another proposal was to urge Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to be steadfast and committed to his political transformation programme which began during the leadership of former premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who is also Khairy’s father-in-law.

“Umno and BN is the true party that fights for good governance and against corruption. The party that protects human rights and champions the civil society agenda. This is the political reality of today.

“When young people think of change, we want them to believe that BN is the ultimate choice. BN is the party that fights for integrity, transparency, freedom and justice since the beginning and for all time,” he stressed.

The other proposals to the government are:

  • Only award government project and contract to companies that offer industrial training programmes to local youths, to reduce the responsibility of the government in youth training.
  • Give tax breaks and grants to companies generating employment for local youths to reduce the impact of cheap foreign labour to local youths.
  • Introduce a Buy Malaysian First campaign to help local entrepreneurs to build their competitiveness.
  • Expand the government’s efforts to identify groups who qualify as recipients of the zakat at all levels, so that zakat assistance will reach those who really need it.
  • Widen the opportunities for young bumiputras to hold important roles in management and decision-making including positions in government-linked companies’ boards which are usually given to political and civil service retirees.
  • Loosen the procedure to discharge bankrupted youths, reduce the time frame for which an individual must wait before applying to be discharged from bankruptcy, and help the young by educating them on financial management. In some cases, tax requirements could be delayed and financial assistance could be given to entrepreneurs to help keep them from bankruptcy.
  • Increase the number of housing units under 1Malaysia Housing Programme (PR1MA) and create special quota for young families in all PR1MA projects.
  • Immediately revamp the relevant welfare policies, by looking at the amounts allocated and the criteria for qualification.

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