The Entrepreneur Development Ministry has no intention of redefining the age limit of youth to 30 years old for entrepreneurs who seek to participate in its development programmes.

Minister Mohd Redzuan Yusof (photo) said entrepreneurs should not worry about getting involved in development programmes organised by the ministry or related agencies.

He said it would also not affect the plans made for entrepreneurs development programmes involving youths.

"Having an age limit of 30 or 35 years old will deny the entrepreneurs opportunities for training.

“From the ministry's perspective, the age limit of 30 years old is based on the right to vote rather than for participation in any entrepreneur training,” he told reporters at the SME Bank 90-Days Biz Challenge event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Last week, the Dewan Rakyat passed a bill to lower the youth age limit from 40 to 30 years old.

Meanwhile, SME Bank CEO Aria Putera Ismail said the National Entrepreneurship Institute (Insken) and Centre for Entrepreneur Development and Research Sdn Bhd (Cedar), two agencies under the ministry, provided training services to all groups.

- Bernama