Fellows programme golden opportunity for the young - Najib

The Prime Minister said the programme provided invaluable experience to the participants who sat with key policy and decision makers of the government.

"When we were students in university, we thought running the government was simple. When you become a member of government, you realise it's not as simple as it looks from the outside.

"Running the government is challenging. It's complex but it's rewarding because you are able to make a difference in the lives of Malaysians," he said at the handing over of 2017 Perdana Fellows at the Perdana Putra building here today.

A total of 85 local and foreign university students and graduates were assigned to their mentors, namely Cabinet ministers and the Chief Secretary to the Government, for between six weeks and three months.