RM200 for youths today

 

BANGI: Malaysians aged between 18 and 20 who are eligible for the RM200 aid under the e-Tunai Belia Rahmah programme will receive the money from today.

“Beginning 8am tomorrow (today), as what I had promised when I was in Langkawi, the RM200 will be credited into your account.

“Use it as wisely as possible for your own good,” said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when launching Rakan Muda in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia yesterday.

(On May 24, Anwar attended a dialogue in Langkawi where he said the e-Tunai Belia Rahmah aid would be given out this month.)

The financial assistance, which involves a RM400mil allocation, was announced in Budget 2023 .

Youths aged 18 to 20 or full-time students at higher institutions of learning can register for the aid from 8am today.

Leaders of tomorrow: Crowds attending the launching of Rakan Muda at UKM in Bangi. – AZMAN GHANI/The Star

The Finance Ministry previously stated that registration and payment period would be from June 26 to Aug 22.

Anwar also reminded those gathered for the event here yesterday to express their love and gratitude for their parents and teachers.

“When you leave this (event), remember to text your parents to show your love for them.

“Secondly, text your teachers to recognise their effort and contributions,” he said to cheers from those at the event.

Anwar also advised the youths to make the right decisions.

“In a world filled with challenges and threats from social media, you must make the right choices.”

He assured the nation’s youth that the unity government would not take the “old approach” of reaching out to them.

“We will not just give advice or warnings; otherwise the young people would feel they are being nagged by old people,” he said.

He said the younger folk want the government and the Youth and Sports Ministry to give them space, adding that programmes offered to them should have a breath of fresh air.

Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the government decided to have a refreshing approach to the Rakan Muda programme, which was launched in 1994.

According to her, she made it one of her priorities when helming the ministry not only to breathe new life into the programme but also to retain some of its features.

For instance, the Rakan Muda song, logo and tagline will be retained, she said.

Yeoh shared that she was only 15 when Rakan Muda was launched and that she was among its first participants.

The programme, she said, made a lasting and positive impression.

Rakan Muda is aimed at fostering unity and other values among youth.

Also present at the event was former youth and sport minister Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Othman who launched Rakan Muda in 1994. - Star