Kuala lumpur: Ideas proposed by young Malaysians through the Gen Bajet 2027 competition could be presented to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) Budget team for consideration in Budget 2027, said Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit (TERAJU) Strategic Services Division senior director Nik Nazree Nik Abdul Rahman.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nik Nazree highlighted that Gen Bajet was designed to give young people a platform to present their ideas directly, particularly focusing on Bumiputera development, before promising proposals were advanced to the next stage. The goal is to allow youth to voice their ideas, especially those related to Bumiputera development, and potentially have them considered by the MOF Budget team.
Nik Nazree emphasized that proposals should be unique, innovative, sustainable, and beneficial to society, while aligning with the aspirations and targets of the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35). This year's edition of Gen Bajet attracted over 70 participants, an increase from 50 in the previous year. He noted the quality of presentations was encouraging, with participants offering new ideas and suggestions to improve existing policies, highlighting the necessity for government policy improvements to support youth and the community.
Youth participation is crucial to keeping the Bumiputera economic transformation agenda relevant amid changing economic landscapes and future generational needs. The aspirations of PuTERA35 demand active involvement from the entire ecosystem, including the younger generation, he added.
Gen Bajet 2027, overseen by the Economy Ministry and TERAJU, provides a platform for young people to propose policy ideas addressing current national issues and challenges in line with PuTERA35, while contributing views on Malaysia's economic development. In this year's finals, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) student Ahmad Huzairy Zaharuddin emerged as the champion, winning RM5,000 with his idea titled MySkill ID - AI-Based National Digital Skills Asset Account, a digital portfolio linking individuals' skills with industries.
Ahmad Huzairy explained that MySkill ID was designed to automatically build individuals' skills portfolios and connect them with industries based on their skills and experience. The platform connects government-registered agencies across Malaysia, allowing users' skills certifications to be recorded in a single system. It enables continuous updates of qualifications and skills records, helping employers identify candidates based on actual skills and experience rather than simply the number of certificates.
The innovative platform could help distinguish between 'skill credits' earned through online courses and a 'skill score' reflecting experience or completed industry-level projects, offering a more comprehensive view of an individual's abilities and potential.