Malaysia Youth Council: Quo vadis transformation in the contemporary era

Malaysia Youth Council (MBM) which is also known as National Youth Council is a non-governmental organization (NGO) accredited to represent voice of youth generation in Malaysia. MBM functions as a parent body of youth organisation at national level. MBM establishment is under the enactment of Youth Organization and Development Act 2007 and it is aimed to boost and motivate youth organizations to play positive and effective role towards society and country, stimulate and create relationship, cooperation, understanding and brotherhood among youth organizations and youth who are balanced in various fields, and nurture responsibility attitude, patriotism and volunteerism among youth organizations. However, does MBM at this moment have transformed in true sense as Malaysian youth development catalyst holistically? Using secondary information the present article aims at conducting a preliminary assessment on the status of MBM in performing the above functions. Does MBM presence being felt by youth in Malaysia completely? In prioritizing the concern of youth in Malaysia, does “the special relationship” with MBM and youth generation nowadays could be regarded exceeding “special relationship” with the third party thus MBM considered to be near youth heart and its integrity is unquestionable? Through observation, MBM is viewed as more restricted to the top-down planning, whereby according to Asnarulkhadi(2009), it is a usual practice in this kind of planning that the objectives and medium to achieve decision mostly determined by the leaders. Most unfortunate, there are several pessimistic opinions that see MBM no more than a stepping stone to political leader that will be highlighted in the future. Hence, this article provides space for discussion on issue raised from various perspectives without involvement of personal interest apart from empowering Malaysian youth in near future.