A more informal and interactive one-stop online portal needs to be developed to make it simpler for youths to access all the initiatives related to the National Economic Recovery Plan (PENJANA) that was announced by the government today, said Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) president Jufitri Joha.

He said this would help youths access information from just one portal compared to other channels previously, adding that the portal should be handled only by the Youth and Sports Ministry.

"The MYC also urges the government to increase broadband facilities and infrastructure, especially to those in rural areas, Sabah and Sarawak so that they can take advantage of online business opportunities," he said in a statement today.

The government introduced PENJANA, themed 'Building the Economy Together', as a short-term measure, covering 40 initiatives worth RM35 billion, to develop and revitalise the national economy.

Jufitri said the government could also increase employment opportunities for locals by giving priority to them for jobs offering salaries within the RM3,000 to RM10,000 range as these were jobs that were supposed to be filled by locals but have instead been taken up by foreigners.

He said the MYC also hoped that the government would continue to consistently encourage smart agriculture among the younger generation to turn Malaysia into a food producer.

-- BERNAMA