The Beauty of Sri Lanka
A Case Study from Malaysia
A Case Study from Malaysia
Setting Up a Youth Policy
Malaysia announced the first National Youth Policy in 1985 after a long and hard struggle. A few years ago the policy was thought to be outdated by many, so the struggle for setting up a new youth policy started.
Malaysia has a population of approximately 20.7 million. Of that total, those aged 15-24 years account for 3.9 million (19.2 per cent). The biggest group, comprising those aged under 15 years, totals 7.3 million (35.4 per cent).
Various youth development strategies and programmes have been implemented in the past few years by many concerned groups from various sectors. There are also several government agencies in Malaysia which are concerned with youth affairs, spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) which was established in 1964. The youth organizations are led by the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC), established in 1948, which has a nationwide network of youth organizations. In addition, several NGOs and the private sector are concerned with youth development.
In the early 1970s, the Malaysian Youth Council began advocating for a national youth policy. The main impetus for pursuing such a policy at that time was the lack of coordination among programmes for youth conducted by the various concerned sectors. This had resulted in duplication, competition, and uncoordinated implementation of youth-related activities by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
There was a need for an overall national policy that would provide clear direction to link all the youth-related initiatives in the country. In order for the national youth policy to play such a role, it was necessary to generate a sense of ownership among those parties concerned with youth affairs regarding the youth policy. If the national policy was perceived more as the property of the Government rather than as the policy of all parties involved with youth affairs, it would not be effective. Therefore, the Council proposed the development of a new policy which would be recognized by all parties concerned, and which would strengthen the formulation of more effective youth programmes.
Discussions on the subject were held during numerous seminars and meetings up to 1979, when the National Youth Consultative Committee (NYCC) approved a Council proposal for the formulation of Malaysia’s first National Youth Policy. The NYCC was established in the early 1970s as a formal mechanism for Government-NGO collaboration on youth-related matters. The NYCC meets twice a year and is chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports. The members comprise, inter alia, representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Malaysian Youth Council, ten other government agencies, as well as the State ministers who chair the 14 State committees for youth.
After extensive review by the concerned parties, the objectives, principles and strategies of the “National Youth Policy” were finally announced by the Government in 1985.
In 1995, after a decade of implementing the National Youth Policy promulgated in 1985, there was a general view that the existing youth policy needed to be reviewed and revised accordingly. Consultations were held by both the Ministry of Youth ad Sports and the Malaysian Youth Council. At the same time, research was conducted by the academic sector to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the policy.
A small closed-door "brain storming" meeting among selected individuals, and chaired by the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, was held at Langkawi in October 1995. The new Minister recognized the need to more actively involve the Malaysian Youth Council in policy-formulation. Prior to that meeting, the Ministry had circulated a draft of a "new youth policy". However, from the view point of the Council, the draft was no more than the addition and deletion of sentences to the existing policy In addition, the Council was dissatisfied by the fact that it had not been consulted by the Ministry in the preparation process of the draft "new youth policy".
The views of the Malaysian Youth Council on the draft “new youth policy” were made at the above meeting. It was agreed that there was a need to revise the draft policy. The Secretary-General of the Council assumed the task of drafting an alternate proposal, which was entitled "The National Youth Development Policy". Four major issues were taken into consideration in drafting the new policy. First, defining the age range of youth (a consensus was reached that the main target group were those in the 15 to 24 year age bracket); second, ensuring the full implementation of the policy so that it would really become effective; third, placing greater emphasis on youth potentials rather than on their “problems”; and finally, making the policy more youth-centred and democratic by ensuring the full participation of youths in the planning and execution of youth programmes.
The proposed new policy was divided into two components. First, a policy statement comprising the philosophy, the objectives, the main areas of operation and the target group; and second, the strategies for implementation, covering 12 areas. These were: (I) the role of NYCC; (ii) professionalism among youth leaders, managers and workers; (iii) coordination between government agencies; (iv) the role of the private sector; (v) strengthening youth organizations and leadership; (vi) the role of other NGOs; (vii) the role of the media; (viii) education and training; (ix) youth activity centres; (x) research and development; (xi) evaluation and recognition; and (xii) finance.
To ensure sufficient involvement and participation by the various groups concerned with youth matters, the draft was thoroughly reviewed and discussed at meetings with representatives of various youth organizations and revised accordingly.
The first draft was discussed at the Second National Youth Dialogue (organized annually by MYC as a forum for NGOs to discuss youth-related issues) on 3 December 1995, and at a special session of the MYC Executive Committee. It was then amended and the second draft was later discussed with MYS which accepted the MYC draft almost entirely. The third draft was later discussed with student leaders from three selected secondary schools and at two seminars involving university students, before being approved by the MYC Supreme Council on 18 December 1995. Then MYC presented the third draft to NYCC on 19 December 1995, when it was unanimously approved
Taken from the publication: “Review of the Youth Situation, Policies and Programmes in Asia and the Pacific”, UNESCAP, 1997
A Case Study from Malaysia
A Case Study from Malaysia
Setting Up a Youth Policy
Malaysia announced the first National Youth Policy in 1985 after a long and hard struggle. A few years ago the policy was thought to be outdated by many, so the struggle for setting up a new youth policy started.
Malaysia has a population of approximately 20.7 million. Of that total, those aged 15-24 years account for 3.9 million (19.2 per cent). The biggest group, comprising those aged under 15 years, totals 7.3 million (35.4 per cent).
Various youth development strategies and programmes have been implemented in the past few years by many concerned groups from various sectors. There are also several government agencies in Malaysia which are concerned with youth affairs, spearheaded by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS) which was established in 1964. The youth organizations are led by the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC), established in 1948, which has a nationwide network of youth organizations. In addition, several NGOs and the private sector are concerned with youth development.
In the early 1970s, the Malaysian Youth Council began advocating for a national youth policy. The main impetus for pursuing such a policy at that time was the lack of coordination among programmes for youth conducted by the various concerned sectors. This had resulted in duplication, competition, and uncoordinated implementation of youth-related activities by various governmental and non-governmental agencies.
There was a need for an overall national policy that would provide clear direction to link all the youth-related initiatives in the country. In order for the national youth policy to play such a role, it was necessary to generate a sense of ownership among those parties concerned with youth affairs regarding the youth policy. If the national policy was perceived more as the property of the Government rather than as the policy of all parties involved with youth affairs, it would not be effective. Therefore, the Council proposed the development of a new policy which would be recognized by all parties concerned, and which would strengthen the formulation of more effective youth programmes.
Discussions on the subject were held during numerous seminars and meetings up to 1979, when the National Youth Consultative Committee (NYCC) approved a Council proposal for the formulation of Malaysia’s first National Youth Policy. The NYCC was established in the early 1970s as a formal mechanism for Government-NGO collaboration on youth-related matters. The NYCC meets twice a year and is chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports. The members comprise, inter alia, representatives of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Malaysian Youth Council, ten other government agencies, as well as the State ministers who chair the 14 State committees for youth.
After extensive review by the concerned parties, the objectives, principles and strategies of the “National Youth Policy” were finally announced by the Government in 1985.
In 1995, after a decade of implementing the National Youth Policy promulgated in 1985, there was a general view that the existing youth policy needed to be reviewed and revised accordingly. Consultations were held by both the Ministry of Youth ad Sports and the Malaysian Youth Council. At the same time, research was conducted by the academic sector to evaluate the effectiveness of the implementation of the policy.
A small closed-door "brain storming" meeting among selected individuals, and chaired by the newly appointed Minister of Youth and Sports, was held at Langkawi in October 1995. The new Minister recognized the need to more actively involve the Malaysian Youth Council in policy-formulation. Prior to that meeting, the Ministry had circulated a draft of a "new youth policy". However, from the view point of the Council, the draft was no more than the addition and deletion of sentences to the existing policy In addition, the Council was dissatisfied by the fact that it had not been consulted by the Ministry in the preparation process of the draft "new youth policy".
The views of the Malaysian Youth Council on the draft “new youth policy” were made at the above meeting. It was agreed that there was a need to revise the draft policy. The Secretary-General of the Council assumed the task of drafting an alternate proposal, which was entitled "The National Youth Development Policy". Four major issues were taken into consideration in drafting the new policy. First, defining the age range of youth (a consensus was reached that the main target group were those in the 15 to 24 year age bracket); second, ensuring the full implementation of the policy so that it would really become effective; third, placing greater emphasis on youth potentials rather than on their “problems”; and finally, making the policy more youth-centred and democratic by ensuring the full participation of youths in the planning and execution of youth programmes.
The proposed new policy was divided into two components. First, a policy statement comprising the philosophy, the objectives, the main areas of operation and the target group; and second, the strategies for implementation, covering 12 areas. These were: (I) the role of NYCC; (ii) professionalism among youth leaders, managers and workers; (iii) coordination between government agencies; (iv) the role of the private sector; (v) strengthening youth organizations and leadership; (vi) the role of other NGOs; (vii) the role of the media; (viii) education and training; (ix) youth activity centres; (x) research and development; (xi) evaluation and recognition; and (xii) finance.
To ensure sufficient involvement and participation by the various groups concerned with youth matters, the draft was thoroughly reviewed and discussed at meetings with representatives of various youth organizations and revised accordingly.
The first draft was discussed at the Second National Youth Dialogue (organized annually by MYC as a forum for NGOs to discuss youth-related issues) on 3 December 1995, and at a special session of the MYC Executive Committee. It was then amended and the second draft was later discussed with MYS which accepted the MYC draft almost entirely. The third draft was later discussed with student leaders from three selected secondary schools and at two seminars involving university students, before being approved by the MYC Supreme Council on 18 December 1995. Then MYC presented the third draft to NYCC on 19 December 1995, when it was unanimously approved
Taken from the publication: “Review of the Youth Situation, Policies and Programmes in Asia and the Pacific”, UNESCAP, 1997