SBWP Approves Motion To Establish Federal Territories Students’ Association

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 1 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territories Youth Assembly (SBWP) for the 2025 term has approved a motion to establish the Federal Territories Students’ Association at institutions of higher learning (IPT), as an umbrella body registered with the Registrar of Societies.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa said she has given the ‘green light’ to the Federal Territories Department (JWP) to explore the proposal for forming a Federal Territories students’ coalition aimed at safeguarding the welfare of students from the Federal Territories, including coordinating bus tickets for trips home, emergency assistance and academic support.

“Alhamdulillah, we are grateful. This initiative will begin with engagements and dialogues with Federal Territories students at public and private university campuses starting next year.

“In this regard, JWP will study the best model, whether through the Federal Territories Foundation, the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council, or close cooperation with the Higher Education Ministry and university administrations so that the association can be recognised on major campuses, equipped with governance structures, a membership database and access to assistance schemes and structured leadership training,” she said.

She said this when winding up the debate at the Second Meeting of the SBWP 2025 held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre today, which also touched on Budget 2026 and full solidarity with Palestine.

Dr Zaliha said the SBWP also unanimously supported Budget 2026 tabled on Oct 10, particularly measures concerning education, employment and entrepreneurship for urban youth.

She said her ministry appreciates the support and acknowledges that for Federal Territories youth, the cost of living cannot be separated from access to social mobility opportunities such as scholarships, education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET), skills programmes, entrepreneurship initiatives and access to a fair job market.

“The mandate conveyed by the Assembly Members is clear — Budget 2026 is not merely a financial document, but must be viewed as a social mobility plan for Federal Territories youth. In this regard, JWP will continue to sharpen its focus on implementing policies at the Federal Territories level.

“As Budget 2026 is a national policy, a specific action plan for the Federal Territories must be drafted to ensure its benefits are genuinely felt by youth in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan,” she said.

She added that JWP is committed to working with agencies, local authorities and youth leaders to ensure that all initiatives under the budget are translated into real opportunities in their daily lives.

The Youth Assembly also expressed full solidarity with the people of Palestine, condemning all forms of brutality, ethnic cleansing and human rights violations, while urging the government to intensify efforts on the international stage, optimise financial and trade networks aligned with Malaysia’s stance, and strengthen narratives through media and educational diplomacy.

Also highlighted were environmental and sustainability-related motions, including the approval of the “Federal Territories Green Tapau” campaign, which encourages the use of eco-friendly food containers and the practice of bringing personal containers, including through creative incentives and digital rewards, as well as a proposal to gradually convert street lights in Labuan to solar systems.

“Labuan is no stranger to solar technology. The implementation of renewable energy projects in Sabah and Labuan shows that the solar energy capacity connected or planned for the Sabah–Labuan grid has reached around 15 megawatts (MW) through two solar farm projects.

“At the same time, the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Ministry (PETRA) and industry partners are exploring and implementing new energy projects in Sabah and Labuan to strengthen electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure, including potential renewable energy initiatives such as wind turbines that support grid stability in the region,” said Dr Zaliha.

-- BERNAMA