The cabinet has agreed to the establishment of a Cabinet Committee on Youth Development which will play an important role in coordinating and updating the delivery system for youth

development programmes.

Prime Minister Najib Razak said in a statement here today that the committee would be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and would have 12 members comprising representatives from the relevant ministries.

It would not only meet the current needs and aspirations but would also ensure that the young generation was more productive in the country's socio-economic development in future, he said.

The committee would also undertake various initiatives to mold today's young generation to play an important role in continuing with the nation building agenda towards a brighter and more prosperous future, he added.

Najib said the committee would be able to contribute various reforms in efforts to develop the young generation of 11.4 million people aged between 15 and 40.

"Among the changes that will be given focu,s are the youth development management mechanism and the implementation of the Youth Association and Youth Development Act 2007 (Act 688)," he said.

Improve coordination of youth agencies

Besides comprehensive implementation of all the youth development policies, he said, efforts would also be made to improve the coordination and cooperation among the relevant youth agencies.

Najib said the governemnt would also continue to help the youth to enjoy the the country's development, strengthen the spirit of patriotism, and make the 1Malaysia concept a culture, besides developing the spirit of entrepreneurship, producing a crime-free youth and enhancing the role of the youth in promoting peace and national resilience and in championing universal values.

He said that with the committee, the functions and roles among government agencies involved in youth development could be coordinated to ensure that the key performance indicators (KPI) for youth development could be achieved before 2012.

"The government thanks all parties who have given suggestions for the setting up of this committee, especially those from the youth leaders at various levels, the Malaysian Youth Council and the National Youth Consultative Council," he said.

He said the ideas and contributions of the cabinet committee members would create a new era of youth development management in the country with big changes in the aspects of responsibility, system and role extension.

"The government believes that the youth will enjoy the benefits and wider development," he said.

- Bernama