PRIME MINISTER Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has unveiled a twin push aimed at reshaping Malaysia’s future generation, combining increased support for youth leadership with a breakthrough policy shift that could allow UEC and tahfiz students wider access to public universities.
Speaking during the National Youth Day 2026 celebrations in Seremban on Friday, Anwar revealed that the allocation for the Malaysian Youth Council (MYC) would be raised to RM5 million this year in recognition of its role in coordinating youth programmes nationwide.
“MYC has a role in coordinating youth activities and mobilising youth associations under the Youth and Sports Ministry.”
“So, this year, I agreed to increase the allocation to a total of RM5mil,” he said.
The Prime Minister used the occasion to deliver a broader message on civic responsibility, urging young Malaysians to embrace critical thinking and engage actively in national discourse without fear of criticising political leaders.
“Young people must have critical thinking. If young people criticise a Prime Minister, that is okay, we must listen,” Anwar said.
However, he stressed that criticism should remain grounded in knowledge, ethics and moral discipline rather than emotional rhetoric.
“Young people need to gain knowledge, but they must also have moral principles,” he added.
Anwar also acknowledged mounting global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, citing rising living costs, unemployment concerns and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz as challenges affecting countries worldwide.
“There are many problems around the world now - unemployment, prices, Hormuz.”
“What we can control, we control. Among countries, we have recorded achievements that I am very proud of,” he said.
The Prime Minister also responded sharply to critics accusing his administration of economic failure and lack of national development.
“There are people who compare me to Abu Jahal and say there is no development and the economy is in ruins. This is idealism driven by lust and emotions,” he said.
Alongside the youth funding announcement, Anwar disclosed that the government was finalising details on a long-debated policy that could pave the way for holders of the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) and graduates from tahfiz institutions to enrol in selected programmes at public universities.
According to Anwar, the Cabinet had already agreed in principle to the move, following acceptance by Chinese independent schools of the requirement for students to pass Bahasa Melayu and History at Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia level.
“This is because previously the matter was not agreed upon. Now that Chinese stream schools have accepted the conditions, we also accept this positively,” he said.
He indicated that implementation would likely begin gradually through selected academic programmes before broader expansion is considered.
“It appears now that all parties are able to accept it, although there are still several details being discussed,” he added.
The proposal is regarded as one of the clearest indications yet that the federal government is prepared to revisit longstanding restrictions surrounding UEC recognition within Malaysia’s public education system.
For decades, the Unified Examination Certificate — widely used by Chinese independent secondary schools — has remained politically contentious despite being recognised by many international universities and private institutions.
By linking eligibility to compulsory passes in Bahasa Melayu and History, the government appears to be framing the initiative as a compromise between preserving national education standards and expanding access to higher education opportunities.
Anwar’s remarks reflected a broader attempt by his administration to position youth empowerment, educational inclusivity and civic participation at the centre of Malaysia’s evolving national agenda. - May 15, 2026
