Sarawak will stick to its youth age limit criteria

I have mentioned to our media friends that Sarawak will not be following the Federal government’s decision to lower the youth age limit from 40 to 30 starting the year 2026. The revision will affect the committee line-up in youth associations and the National Youth Council, as they cannot be older than 30 years old.

At this point in time, we will not be following the federal government’s decision (to lower the youth age limit). Sarawak can decide on the youth age limit at the state-level, and we have our own ways of deciding this. I was asked to comment on this matter during the press conference at the State Legislative Assembly in Petra Jaya, Kuching. I have pointed out that Sarawak had only recently reduced the youth age limit from 45 to 40, and I believed it will continue to be lowered in the future.

I have also cited the Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (SABERKAS), which practises a hybrid formula in the committee line-up whereby about 70% of its committee members are aged between 18 and 40. We allocate about 30 per cent of the committee to those above 40 years old.

This is because Sarawak believes the senior members can still guide the younger generation in better administrating and managing an association. With that said, I have mentioned our State government is determined in acknowledging the potential of the youth, as evidenced by the number of candidates aged below 40 who were fielded in the recent elections.

Recently the Federal Youth and Sports Minister, YB Hannah Yeoh had said the revision to the youth age limit with come into effect Jan 1, 2026, when the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019 comes into force. Among others, the amendment will set the age limit of youth society office bearers to 18 to 30 years old.