I think 9 years is too long. A 4 year period will\u00a0suffice\u00a0as I think all societies\/organisations would at least have their AGMs within a three year period.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nOnly those aged 18 to 25 will be defined as youth under a new National Youth Policy.<\/p>\n
Youth and\u00a0Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek\u00a0said the proposal to change the current definition of \u201cyouth\u201d from those aged 18 to 40 years old to 18 to 25 years old was in line with international standards.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United Nations’ definition of youth’ is 15 to 24 years old while the Commonwealth’s is 15 to 29 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are defining those below 25 years old as youth’,\u201d he said after opening the second National Youth Consultative Council meeting here yesterday.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Shabery said the draft policy would replace the old one introduced in 1997.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis means that by 2020, only those aged between 18 and 25 years old can be members and hold office in youth organisations.<\/p>\n
\u201cBefore we set the current limit of 40 years old, we had office bearers of youth organisations who were more than 50 years old.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt took three years for most organisations to comply with the rule.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, we are giving youth organisations nine years to make the change so they have time to prepare,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
While the draft policy still needs Cabinet approval, Ahmad Shabery said the \u201cyouth\u201d age revision was in tandem with the liberalisation of regulations that govern student participation in youth organisations outside the school or university campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past, students were not allowed to participate in organisations outside the campus.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, they can take part in non-political organisations. However, many do not realise that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Ahmad Shabery hoped that the change would encourage more young people to assume leadership positions in the country.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n