Treating youth as trusted partners of today ensures a stable, innovative & bright future for everyone

Opinion
8 Sep 2026 • 8:00 AM MYT
Zulkifly Baharom
Zulkifly Baharom

An HR practitioner, Sejahtera Leadership Coach & Gusi Peace Prize Laureate.

Image from: Treating youth as trusted partners of today ensures a stable, innovative & bright future for everyone
MASA Honorary Fellow Dato' Seri Mutalib sharing thoughts & Moderator Ammar Syahmi. Pix: Aimil

Being an Anak Malaysia means the journey to a better tomorrow depends entirely on the investments made in youth today. The best phase “the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow”, famously highlighted by Nelson Mandela, means young people hold the future of society in their hands & will soon take charge of nations, economies, and communities. The core meaning is young people are the future driving force of the world. Many thinkers argue that youth are actually the leaders of today, actively shaping society right now rather than waiting for the future. It was resolved at the Merdeka Day Forum for youth leaders, that “To secure a prosperous future, society must empower, educate & involve young people as active partners in growth at every level."

Participated actively by youth leaders at the Institut Masa Depan Malaysia (MASA), the moderator, Ammar Syahmi said that “Young people bring fresh vitality, creativity & passion to solve stubborn social issues. Youth with technology fluency, can quickly adopt & master new tools, driving digital modern & transformations. We've fresh perspectives, unburdened by outdated traditions, young minds invent bold solutions for climate change, social justice, and effective governance.”

Image from: Treating youth as trusted partners of today ensures a stable, innovative & bright future for everyone
Interesting session in progress at MASA: focusing on how coding, digital activism, tech entrepreneurship & breaking barrier in policy-making that will allow young people to lead right now. Pix: Aimil

In fielding questions from youth and students leaders at the forum, MASA Honorary Fellow Dato' Seri Abdul Mutalib Razak who delivered the keynote presentation that “Many experienced leaders block youth from entering decision-making roles or political spaces. Dismissing youth as 'too inexperienced' wastes valuable ideas & delays societal progress. Active inclusion inviting young voices into policy and decision-making tables at local & national levels."

Image from: Treating youth as trusted partners of today ensures a stable, innovative & bright future for everyone
Prof Zul said, “An intergenerational discussion focuses on how youth leadership collaborate with older generation, highlights the bridge between wisdom of experience & energy of innovation.” Pix: Aimil

I agree with MASA mentorship by providing guidance so young people can channel their energy into constructive nation-building. The journey to a better tomorrow depends entirely on the investments made in youth today. Modern educated youth are digital natives. They can use technology, AI and social media to solve local, national & global issues, and build new economies. True democratic growth requires fresh ideas & voices. Youth participation is vital.


Zulkifly Baharom (hajizul50@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

The User Content (as defined on Newswav Terms of Use) above including the views expressed and media (pictures, videos, citations etc) were submitted & posted by the author. Newswav is solely an aggregation platform that hosts the User Content. If you have any questions about the content, copyright or other issues of the work, please contact creator@newswav.com.

Newswav Malaysia Best News App

Newswav is an online content aggregator and obtains its content from different online sources. The content in the app do not belong to Newswav nor do they reflect the opinions of Newswav and its staff. Your use of this app indicates your understanding and acceptance of this information.

Newswav Sdn. Bhd. (201701008480 (1222645-M)) 2026 All Rights Reserved