Sarawak to maintain current youth age limit at 40

Sarawak to maintain current youth age limit at 40

Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said reducing the age limit abruptly would have many implications.

SARAWAK will maintain its current youth age limit at 40, despite the federal government’s decision to lower the cap to 30 from January next year, said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah

"Sarawak retains the autonomy to determine its own age threshold for youth at the state level and are not bound by what has been decided at the federal level.

"For now, Sarawak’s definition of youth remains between the ages of 15 and 40," he said as reported by Borneo Post.

He said reducing the age limit abruptly would have many implications.

Spealing after officiating at the BELIA GoBiz@Limbang 2025 programme held at Dewan Suarah in Limbang,

Abdul Karim said various ministries, including the Food Industry, Commodity and Regional Development Ministry and other sectors, have programmes in place to support youth development.

He said many of these would be affected if the age limit was lowered suddenly.

He added that setting the age limit strictly at 30 would be problematic as many individuals at that age are just completing their studies.

“If we bring the cut-off below 40, they would no longer be eligible for various forms of funding and assistance and that is why we are keeping the current policy in place for Sarawak,” he added.

Earlier, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh announced that the federal government would implement a new youth age cap of 30 effective Jan 1 next year, under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act 2019.

The current national youth age limit remains at 40 until the new policy comes into force. – July 13, 2025