BN Manifesto gives special focus to youths
KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- The country's youths stand to greatly benefit from various initiatives and opportunities outlined in the Barisan Nasional (BN) manifesto for the 14th General Election, such as preparing those below 30 with jobs or the requisite training to secure employment within six months.
They will also benefit from the proposed creation of an additional 50,000 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) job opportunities, through TVET boot camps of three to six months developed together with potential employers.
These are some of BN's election pledges contained in the manifesto unveiled by Prime Minister and BN chairman Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak here tonight as the coalition seeks to bring to fruition the aspirations of the National Transformation 2050 (TN50) agenda.
The manifesto, carrying the theme ?With BN for A Greater Malaysia', also pledges to increase graduate employability through structured internships and soft skills training for public university students.
Another objective is to increase the employability of unemployed graduates through the Apprenticeship Malaysia Programme in five pilot industries that will then be expanded to other industries in the future.
The manifesto also highlights these promises:
- Creating 10,000 job opportunities in social entrepreneurship through special funds from government-linked companies (GLCs).
- Empowering ?Maahad Tahfiz' graduates through structured apprenticeships and internship matching programmes at companies in the halal industry.
- Boosting the number of 1Malaysia Youth Transit Homes to assist youths who are new to the working world.
- Increasing the number of 1Malaysia Youth Transit Homes offered to young women who are new to the working world.
- Empowering youth public service employees through Career Cross Assignment programmes with GLCs, government-linked investment companies (GLICs) and statutory bodies.
- Expanding apprenticeship programmes in GLCs.
- Providing routine, unconditional health screening at government health clinics for youths aged 35 and 40 years.
- Expanding the use of YEN as a one-stop portal that streamlines all services, information, opportunities and assistance for youth entrepreneurs.
- Increasing the number of rural youth entrepreneurs by expanding the Rural Business Challenge (RBC) to every district.
- Spearheading lifelong learning through incentives that enable the youths to undergo Massive Open Online Courses or purchase software needed for work purposes.
- Providing second chances to former juvenile convicts, drug-abusers and women who become pregnant out of wedlock through TVET training and the establishment of the Second Chance Fund.
- Emboldening the role of youth in national development by generating new, fresh and creative policy ideas. The best policy idea received through the ?MyCadang' application will be selected for monthly presentation at Cabinet meetings. (MyCadang is a platform for the citizens and youths to propose ideas that can impact society in terms of economic development, citizen well-being and innovation).
- Increasing youths' engagement with local governments (PBT) by establishing Youth PBT Councils that are capable of empowering the role and voice of the youths at the local government level.
- Providing annual funds for the best youth ideas proposed to achieve all 10 main aspirations in the TN50 Youth Canvas.
- Enhancing the MyLESEN programme by providing subsidies to rural youths who apply to get motorcycle (B2 class) licences.
- Organising art classes and sports programme for children aged 12 and below who reside in People's Housing Projects (PPR) and the Housing Development Programme for Hardcore Poor (PPRT).
- Bolstering the younger generation's efforts to spur change through the provision of social incentives, funds, upskilling initiatives and volunteer programmes.
- Training Orang Asli youths with the knowledge and skills necessary to spearhead green industries and environmental protection.
- Reducing the burden for youth couples who intend to get married.
- Building the e-Riadah portal and application to facilitate the booking of public recreational and sports facilities, apart from offering special discounts to youths.
- Upgrading facilities in all Youth and Sports complexes across the country that will be equipped with extreme parks, boarding facilities, lecture halls, pavilions and racing tracks.
- Upgrading all neighbourhood mini-sports complexes for use by the younger generation.
