KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Youth Council (MBS) has called for a revision of the national youth age limit policy ahead of its scheduled enforcement on Jan 1, 2026.
Its president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the current limit of 15 to 30 years does not reflect the developmental realities faced by youth in Sabah.
He pointed out that factors such as delayed entry into the workforce, limited access to education, and rural infrastructure gaps mean many young Sabahans only reach socio-economic maturity after 30.
Youth in remote areas, he added, continue to face barriers in completing basic or tertiary education due to logistical constraints and limited facilities.
Abqaree said enforcing a strict age cap of 30 risks excluding a significant group of Sabah youth still in need of policy support and engagement.
He said MBS proposes an adjusted age range of 15 to 40 years to ensure youth programmes remain inclusive and responsive to local needs.
The proposal, he said, aligns with Sabah Maju Jaya’s focus on inclusive development and would allow more young Sabahans to benefit from state and national initiatives.
