Budget 2022 does not marginalise youths - PM

KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2022, themed "Keluarga Malaysia, Makmur Sejahtera" (A Prosperous Malaysian Family) that was tabled in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, does not marginalise the country's youths, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

He said Budget 2022 was inclusive and covered all levels of society, involving those living in urban and rural areas as well as all races and religions.

He said this was despite the negative comments made by youths on social media claiming the government supposedly marginalised them under Budget 2022.

"The government has never and will never marginalise youths in anything announced for Malaysia, our country. Surely youths are given priority, that is why I said earlier that our country's future depends on the youths today.

"It's impossible for us to marginalise or sideline the youths. In the budget that was announced yesterday, there are 25 types of direct or indirect incentives for youths," he said when launching the 2021 National Youth Day celebration here today.

Ismail Sabri clarified that the budget for youths was not placed under a specific topic but could be found under the topic that covered, among others, persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens and women.

Ismail Sabri said that one of the initiatives was the PerantiSiswa scheme that will provide a tablet to every B40 student in institutions of higher education, with the government contributing about RM800 per unit.

Apart from that, the government is also committed to providing 600,000 job opportunities to help unemployed youths through the JaminKerja initiative.

Other incentives, the prime minister said, included the skills tax relief, Perlindungan Tenang Voucher, MySalam, Kasih Suri, childcare centre fees, micro credit, e-sports and housing for the informal sector.

For example, the incentive on housing for the informal sector, he said, would be carried out via the government's allocation of RM2 billion provided through the Housing Credit Guarantee Scheme for youths who do not have proof of fixed income, such as pay slips, to purchase houses.

"(Take) The Felda Youth Council (as an example). Felda has a Felda Second Generation Housing programme, but the youths in Felda cannot buy these houses because they do not have pay slips as they are self-employed, and that's the same problem for (purchasing) other houses," he said.

Meanwhile, Ismail Sabri said he understood the aspirations and needs of youths because, before he entered into politics, he had also been directly involved with youth groups when he joined a youth association after completing his varsity studies.

"So, I understand what are their needs and requirements. I understand and the first ministerial post I held was Minister of Youth and Sports.

"So, trust me that this prime minister is originally from a youth association and the youth ministry. So, surely I understand the aspirations of our youths and the youth bodies," he said.

Meanwhile, the prime minister said he would discuss with Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu to review every proposal presented by Malaysian Youth Council president Jufitri Joha for the benefit of youths in the country.

-- BERNAMA