Country Needs Determined, Knowledgeable Younger Generation To Drive National Development - Anwar

PUTRAJAYA, Sept 30 (Bernama) -- The country needs a younger generation with determination, understanding and knowledge to take on the important responsibilities of driving national development, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

He said young people with such talent and leadership qualities were essential in navigating the various challenges and complexities of the country’s governance.

“When you are in the public service, you will see how diverse and complex the issues we face are.

“We have people of different races, religions, regions and backgrounds, all expecting the very best from us. But, God willing, we can do our best,” he said in his speech at the 2026 MADANI Fellowship Programme here today.

Also present were Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Shamsul Azri Abu Bakar, and Cabinet ministers.

A total of 76 youths aged between 23 and 29 have been selected for the four-month programme, with placements at various ministries and government agencies to give them direct exposure to national policies and the country’s administrative system.

The MADANI Fellowship programme, rebranded from the Perdana Fellowship following a Cabinet decision on June 26, is a youth leadership development initiative based on a mentor-mentee approach involving the country’s top leadership.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said direct exposure to the government’s administrative machinery would give participants a broader understanding of the governance landscape, which must take into account the diverse backgrounds of Malaysians, different regions and the demands of the people.

“You will meet your mentors, who are ministers and will, of course, be very busy. But I believe you can do it. What is important is to make use of the opportunity to observe ministry programmes and parliamentary debates,” he said.

He said that although most participants were assigned to specific ministries, their understanding of the government’s administrative machinery should not be confined to those ministries.

In this regard, the Prime Minister proposed enhancing the initiative by giving participants an opportunity to spend time at other ministries during the four-month programme to gain a better understanding of their functions.

Anwar also urged MADANI Fellowship participants to broaden their knowledge, examine issues in depth and make full use of the opportunities for exposure provided throughout the programme.

“So, please utilise the resources, make full use of your time, learn, acquire knowledge, engage with as many people as possible,” he said.

Meanwhile, he described the strong support from Cabinet members for the programme as clear evidence of the government’s continued commitment to developing youth leadership.

-- BERNAMA