Kuala lumpur: The Dewan Rakyat must be an institution that is respected, trusted by the people, and serves as the best 'school' of democracy for future generations, especially ahead of the sitting of the Malaysian Youth Parliament (PBMy), which is scheduled to begin on Sept 11. Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul emphasized that Parliament is not merely a place for Members of Parliament to debate but also the nation's highest legislative institution that serves as a reference point for society and the younger generation.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Johari stated that young leaders participating in PBMy need the best examples and role models through dignified, orderly, and integrity-driven Dewan Rakyat proceedings, while being exposed to a culture of mature, fact-based debates centred on the people's interests. He urged all Members of Parliament to set a good example, highlighting that every speech and action in the Dewan Rakyat is observed by the public through social media and live broadcasts.
Johari expressed hope that Members of Parliament will preserve the dignity of the House by embracing a culture of debate that is factual, courteous, and solution-oriented. The Malaysian Youth Parliament adopts the concept of the Malaysian Parliament, comprising 222 seats representing parliamentary constituencies nationwide, with parties formed within the platform based on youth organizations registered with Parliament Malaysia. These parties are non-partisan and not involved in the country's party politics.
Johari, who is also the patron of the PBMy programme, elaborated that Parliament Malaysia is actively conducting outreach programmes with youths nationwide, targeting 300,000 youths aged between 18 and 30 to register ahead of the Youth Parliament Election scheduled for August this year. Key dates include nomination day on July 8, followed by the announcement of official candidates on July 11. The campaign period has been set at 27 days from July 12 to Aug 7 nationwide, while the voting process will be conducted online through the e-PBMy system, open for 24 hours from 10 am on Aug 8 until 10 am on Aug 9.
Johari noted that the opening ceremony of the Youth Assembly Sitting and the appointment of Youth Assembly Members, scheduled for Sept 11, will mark the beginning of a new parliamentary term for the Malaysian Youth Parliament. The sittings will be held three times a year, with each sitting lasting two days, and Youth Parliament members will serve a two-year term.
The Malaysian Youth Parliament was introduced in 2015 under the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS). After eight years, the government agreed in October 2023 for the Malaysian Youth Parliament to be fully managed and implemented by Parliament Malaysia.