SHAH ALAM, July 1 — Urban mobility, legal literacy, mental health, and co-living housing were selected as the four key motions in the Selangor Youth Assembly 2026 programme, reflecting the priorities of the state's younger generation.
The motions, chosen through a voting process, provide participants with the opportunity to raise issues closely related to the public's lives and propose solutions that could be tabled at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly sitting.
Representing the Taman Templer state constituency, Muhammad Faiz Muhammad Faris said he chose the motion on transforming urban mobility and safety to find solutions to worsening traffic congestion affecting the public.
“As a former Sijil Tinggi Pelajaran Malaysia student, I only learnt about the Dewan Negara and Parliament. This programme has given me the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how State Legislative Assembly sittings are conducted and how motions are drafted.
“I hope the motion I have put forward will be considered for tabling at the State Legislative Assembly so that the issues of traffic congestion and urban safety can receive greater attention,” he said.
Faiz added that participating in the programme had given him valuable new experiences, boosted his self-confidence, and allowed him to explore future career opportunities.
Meanwhile, Seri Kembangan's representative Armada Muhammad Xabir Yuriny tabled a motion on legal literacy after observing that many young people still lacked an understanding of their rights and the country's democratic system.
“As a law student, I see that many young people still have limited knowledge of the law, while political literacy also remains low, despite the voting age having been lowered to 18.
“I hope programmes like this can improve young people's understanding of democracy and their rights, ultimately producing a society that is more legally informed,” he said.
Armada noted that the debating experience throughout the programme also strengthened his confidence in presenting arguments more effectively in the future.
Similarly, mental health also received significant attention, with two participants selecting the issue and emphasising the well-being of disabled persons, children with special needs, and their families.
Bandar Utama representative Putri Fasha Farisha said she hoped to raise public awareness of the mental health challenges faced by disabled persons.
“I am a person with a physical disability caused by a rare condition, congenital myasthenia gravis. I hope my participation will demonstrate that disabled persons are equally capable of contributing ideas in programmes such as this.
“The mental health of disabled persons continues to receive insufficient attention, even though they face numerous challenges arising from their surroundings and daily lives,” she said.
The Bachelor of Administrative Science student described her participation in the Selangor Youth Assembly as a meaningful experience, since not every young person has the opportunity to observe the legislative process firsthand.
Another Selangor Youth Assembly member, representing the Banting state constituency, Mariam Zahiah Tazali, said she chose the same motion based on her research in special education.
“Mental health issues, particularly those involving children with special needs, parents, and young disabled persons, still require greater attention and earlier intervention.
“This programme not only gives young people the opportunity to represent the voices of the public, but also allows them to build networks with participants from diverse backgrounds in order to champion issues that benefit society,” she said.
The Selangor Youth Assembly 2026 programme is being held over two days, concluding tomorrow, with 56 youths selected from a total of 232 applicants.
Introduced in 2014, it aims to expose young people aged between 18 and 35 to the democratic process, policy formulation and the workings of the Selangor State Legislative Assembly.
