PETALING JAYA, July 17 — The federal government remains firm in its decision to lower the youth age limit to 30, effective January 1, 2026, in line with amendments passed by Parliament in 2019, said Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh.
However, she said organisations like Sarawak’s main youth body, Pertubuhan Belia Kebangsaan Bersatu Sarawak (Saberkas), are exempt from the ruling because they are registered under the Registrar of Societies (ROS), not the Registrar of Youth Organisations (ROY).
“With regard to the youth age limit, the government has already made a decision — Parliament passed the law in 2019. It has since been postponed twice, which means we are now in the third grace period.
“Sarawak has its own youth organisation, Saberkas, which is registered under the ROS and not under ROY, so it doesn’t need to follow (the federal decision). ROS has no age limit,” she told reporters after officiating at the Asia Pickleball Summit here today.
Yeoh said the amendment to set the youth age limit at 30 is a step in line with global trends, which are increasingly focused on the younger generation.
Sarawak’s Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah previously said Sarawak has the authority to determine the youth age limit in the state.
Karim said Sarawak intends to maintain its youth age range at 15 to 40.
— Bernama
