Kuala lumpur: The Perdana Fellows Programme, an initiative under the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS), is set to return this year from June to October after a two-year hiatus, the Dewan Rakyat was told today. Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol announced the programme's revival, highlighting its significance in youth development.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the programme, first introduced in 2013, was suspended in 2024 and 2025 to conduct a comprehensive study by the Institute for Youth Research Malaysia. The study assessed the programme's effectiveness, training modules, and its impact on youth leadership development. The findings revealed that 95 per cent of participants showed improvements in leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

In response to an inquiry from Datuk Iskandar Dzulkarnain Abdul Khalid (PN-Kuala Kangsar) regarding the programme's resumption and potential enhancements, Mordi Bimol noted that 88.7 per cent of participants credited the programme for aiding their career development, with 80 per cent acknowledging its positive influence on professional networking.

The Perdana Fellows Programme is designed to provide high-potential youth with exposure to policy formulation, government governance, and leadership at the highest levels in the country. Mordi detailed improvements for the upcoming edition, where 62 participants will be selected as mentees and assigned to four key offices: the Minister's Office, the Deputy Minister's Office, the Office of the Chief Secretary to the Government, and the Office of the Director-General of the Public Service.

The selection process will now include a centralised assessment following interviews and psychometric tests, and participants will be required to sign an integrity pledge to ensure legal compliance. Additionally, the programme will be limited to graduates, unlike previous editions that accepted final-year students.