Young generation not easily influenced

Umno Youth head Khairy Jamaluddin believes that the young generation in the country is not easily influenced by foreign elements that are capable of jeopardising national prosperity.

He said the growing support from the young generation for the Barisan Nasional (BN) government was achieved through the government's own initiative to get closer to the young generation and listen to their woes as well as the issues raised by them.

In addition, the government was always making efforts to fulfill the needs of the generation that would inherit the country's legacy, he told Bernama.

"The young generation is not easily influenced by foreign elements including those who want to topple the government because we give these young people ample opportunity to the extent that their views are conveyed to the Dewan Rakyat by the members of Parliament.

"The democratic process in our country is better than in the countries that overthrow their own government and we have ended the era where 'the government knows everything', we engage the young generation and understand their soul and fulfill their aspiration," he said.

He said government efforts to empower the young generation could be seen through the 2013 Budget tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently which included a special allocation to provide skills training to the youths.

"The amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) which enabled undergraduates to indulge in politics are among our efforts to empower the young generation. There are some who feared that the implementation of the amended Act would lead to chaos in campus.

"But this amendment has been implemented more than one year, there is no chaos (in campus) and, in fact, the undergraduates are more vigorous in contributing to national development. Please trust us, we the young people want and will make this country the best in the world," he added.