Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim increases youth council funding to RM5 million, with RM42.3 million for Islamic institutions and educators.
SENDAYAN: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced an increase in allocations for the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) to RM5 million this year, up from RM4 million last year.
Speaking at the National Youth Day 2026 celebration here today, Anwar reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering young people and strengthening their role in nation-building.
He said youth organisations remain important platforms for developing leadership, critical thinking and civic responsibility among young Malaysians.
“I do not think I could have remained active like this if I had not been exposed to youth organisations and eventually became president of the Malaysian Youth Council,” he said.
The Finance Minister also announced increased financial support for Islamic institutions and religious personnel under the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (Jakim).
He said the government had approved higher allowances for Kafa teachers, mosque imams, qariah committee members and religious instructors, involving a total financial implication of RM42.3 million.
In addition, Anwar said RM5.4 million had been allocated for the maintenance and upgrading of religious institutions nationwide, including tahfiz schools and pondok institutions.
“Some tahfiz schools are in very poor condition. That is why we approved allocations for repair and maintenance works,” he said.
He added that three repair and upgrading projects involving pondok and tahfiz institutions in Negeri Sembilan had also been approved under the Prime Minister’s Department maintenance unit, involving an additional allocation of RM800,000.
Anwar said the initiatives reflected the government’s continued commitment to safeguarding the welfare of religious educators and strengthening Islamic educational institutions, while ensuring youth development remains a national priority.
He stressed the importance of youth participation in addressing national challenges, including unemployment, low wages and issues affecting gig economy and e-hailing workers.
Anwar also said he had instructed ministries and government agencies to engage directly with young people and grassroots communities to better understand their needs.
