Youth and Sports MInister Khairy Jamaluddin said there is a need to increase youth participation in the political process to better shape government policies.

The Umno Youth chief, however, was quick to add that this does not necessarily mean joining BN.

"If I can make one call of action today, it would be to ask that you participate in politics.

"No matter what you feel about the political system, it is still the (platform) to make change," Khairy told more than 2,000 participants of the National Aspiration and Leadership Summit 2016 in PWTC today.

The summit, an annual event organised by the Youth and Sports Ministry is now in its fifth year.

Khairy noted that youths below the age of 30 now make up over eight billion of the global population, but their needs are not reflected in government policies due to lack of participation in the political process.

"I am not here to tell you to vote this way and the other because I believe that the decision lies in your own hands.

"As much as I would like you to vote for my party, at the end of the day you must go home and make your own decisions.

"I need to be able to leave this stage and say that I trust you," said Khairy, who stressed that he believes its best if the government refrains from dictating youths.

Youth voters were also on the mind of Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who earlier today said that youths can be kingmakers as they make up 40 percent of the electorate.

Unlike the Umno Youth chief, however, Zahid did not mince his words when he urged youths to back Umno.

Speaking at the Selangor Youth Council 32nd annual meeting, he urged the council members to help BN win back Selangor if it wants to receive state government assistance again.

"If you want state government allocations again, if MBS wants to be officially recognised again, make sure you win back the Selangor government," the Umno vice president said.