Sinar Harian sets up trust fund to increase youth participation in politics




File photo

KUALA LUMPUR, April 9 (Bernama) -- The Sinar Harian newspaper has set up a special trust fund to help under 30-year-old youths involved in the political arena in an effort to maximise young people participation in the field.

Karangkraf Media Group managing director Datuk Hussamuddin Yaacub said that in order to develop a new political era, youth participation in politics should be a norm in the country.

"Youth participation in shaping the national policies is important. This is because maximum youth participation will give a new perspective on how the laws are enacted," he said in a statement here today.

He said the main challenge of young politicians was financial constraints.

In general, Hussamuddin said RM215,000 was the average amount needed for one to compete for a parliamentary seat in a general election and RM108,000 for a state seat.

He said the trust fund was opened to all youth regardless of social and political background.

Sinar Harian would also provide media coverage to the first 10 youths who received the fund and to date a total of RM200,000 had been collected, he added.

-- BERNAMA