Kota Kinabalu: The establishment of the Chief Minister’s Young Thinkers serves as a “direct pathway” for Sabah youth to participate in the formulation of government development policies.
Sabah Youth Council (MBS) president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the platform, which will be led by young Sabah intellectuals, will act as a research and advisory body to the Chief Minister in shaping youth-related development policies.
“The lack of communication channels and formal avenues for youth participation in policymaking has previously resulted in policies that are less relevant to the needs of the younger generation.
“Young people often feel that their views are heard only in forums but rarely channelled directly into the state’s planning and policymaking process.
“As a result, existing policies risk becoming outdated or misaligned with current realities,” he said.
Abqaree added that the establishment of the Chief Minister’s Young Thinkers provides a direct and official platform for youth engagement with state leadership.
“This is not just a space for expression but an official mechanism where every criticism, proposal, and innovative idea from the youth will be refined and translated into tangible policy documents.
“It gives young people a sense of ownership in shaping the state’s direction under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) framework,” he said in a statement here, recently.
Commenting on the formation of the Sabah Youth Action Council (MTBS), which was also announced by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Saturday, Abqaree said the body plays a crucial role in resolving overlapping programmes, poor coordination, and inefficiencies in youth development initiatives.
“In the past, despite various efforts from agencies and youth NGOs, implementation was often ad hoc and lacked integration.
“This led to fragmented resources and failed to inclusively reach youth groups, particularly in addressing employability and skills development issues.
“The MTBS will serve as an inclusive coordinating and implementing body, an umbrella to unify all youth development initiatives under one impact-oriented framework.
“This will ensure that every youth-related programme, from skills training and entrepreneurship to wellbeing, is implemented strategically across both urban and rural areas,” Abqaree added.
On Saturday, Chief Minister Hajiji announced two new initiatives, the Chief Minister’s Young Thinkers and the Sabah Youth Action Council, aimed at strengthening and enhancing inclusivity in youth development programmes across the state.
