The Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) will officially implement the age limit of 30 for youth classification starting January 1, 2025, following two prior postponements.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh confirmed that KBS had conducted engagement sessions and allocated funding to help ease the transition. The ministry will also submit a working paper to the Cabinet to ensure age-based government assistance continues during the adjustment period.
The announcement was made during the National Youth Consultative Council (MPBN) meeting held at the International Youth Centre (IYC), where some delegates expressed concern over rural youth associations’ lack of preparedness. Others proposed extending the age limit to 35 to accommodate existing leadership structures.
The upcoming enforcement aligns with the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019, which takes full effect in 2026.
The Act limits youth organisation membership to individuals aged 15 to 30, while leadership roles are restricted to those aged 18 to 30, with a maximum term of four years.
Currently, 8,272 youth organisations are registered under the Registrar of Societies, but only 10%—including groups like Gabungan Pelajar Melayu Semenanjung (GPMS) and Majlis Belia India Malaysia (MIYC)—have updated their constitutions to comply with the new regulation. Nevertheless, 54% of existing officeholders are already under the age of 30.
MIYC president Dhanesh Basil welcomed the change, pointing out that most ASEAN countries and developed nations define youth as individuals below the age of 30. “We still classify 40 to 50-year-olds as youth, which is not in line with international standards,” he said.
