PUTRAJAYA, Jan 29 — The government will roll out a pilot project to strengthen language skills among youth, in line with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s call to nurture a multilingual generation.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh said the initiative aims to create more weekend activities for youths growing up in Putrajaya, supporting language learning through practical and informal engagement.
“We are responding to the prime minister’s challenge for young people to be fluent in Malay, English, Mandarin, Tamil or Arabic.
“However, language mastery requires opportunities to practise; classroom learning alone is not enough,” Yeoh told reporters after officiating the Putrajaya Open Day 2026 here today.
To realise the plan, the minister said her team is drafting proposals for free language classes that will allow young people to learn and practise openly, recognising that continuous exposure is key to proficiency.
“These discussions include free classes. Anyone interested can come to learn or practise,” she said.
Yeoh also said retired language teachers may be invited to volunteer, with flexible one- to two-hour sessions to help youths practise consistently.
She added that her team is planning free sports classes, such as aerobics and skipping, at certain locations in Putrajaya to address rising obesity rates among youth.
Pilot locations will be identified before the programme is expanded, with a focus on family well-being and community needs, particularly among civil servants who face challenges in spending time with their children.
Further details will be announced once discussions are finalised, Yeoh added.
