Kuala lumpur: The policy and system reforms in the Malaysian Youth Parliament (PBMy) which will be implemented starting next year will spark a new wave of young leadership who are more prepared, competent and inclusive in leading the country’s future, said Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul. He said PBMy is not just a training ground, but rather a strategic platform to instil leadership values among the youth who would become the next generation to lead the country’s government.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari emphasized that by giving young individuals space at the age of 18, they will enter the Dewan Rakyat, a decade later, as experienced and knowledgeable leaders. At 28, they transition from being observers to mature leaders. Among the significant reforms to be introduced in PBMy is an electoral system based on Proportional Representation and Closed Party List. This system allows youth voters aged 18 to 30 to choose PBMy members based on their manifestos rather than individual candidates.

Johari highlighted that the Malaysian Parliament will manage the entire PBMy election process, offering seven parties to universities nationwide to be represented. Each party will compete for 222 seats, mirroring the number of Dewan Rakyat members. The competition will be based on party manifestos, encouraging youth voters to make choices rooted in creativity and policy offerings that are inclusive and progressive.

The PBMy elections are slated to be held entirely online starting next year. This digital approach allows voters to cast their votes according to their home states without being hindered by their physical location. The first group is expected to convene in June 2026. PBMy sittings will occur three times a year, where members will debate major issues such as education, health, and youth development. The resolutions agreed upon will be channeled to the Parliamentary Special Select Committee before being considered for discussion in the Dewan Rakyat.

Johari expressed that this initiative is a long-term investment aimed at ensuring the continuity of quality and responsible national leadership. He envisions PBMy as a transformative force in developing the next generation of leaders who are credible, principled, and resilient. The PBMy implementation guidebook is actively being disseminated through workshops involving various stakeholders such as academic experts, youth representatives, and policymakers to strengthen the programme’s structure and direction.