Harness The Power Of Youth - PM Anwar

From Saraswathi Muniappan

ADDIS ABABA, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- The recent wave of Gen Z protests worldwide is a wake-up call for governments to harness the power of youth and recognise them as equal participants in the political process, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said young people, in Malaysia and elsewhere, are masters of digital tools and technology, enabling them to push for greater participatory democracy and to demand transparency and accountability from those in power.

“The recent wave of Gen Z protests in several countries has made it clear that the will of the youth is no longer insignificant and that their prioritisation of good governance has increased.

“Their concerns also extend to climate change, economic inequality and violations of human rights,” he said at the Afro-Malaysia Youth Forum here.

Hence, the Prime Minister said it is most encouraging to see youth pushing for policy initiatives to drive changes in these areas.

Crucially, Anwar noted, youth engagement in global dialogues helps build cross-cultural understanding and strengthens international cooperation.

“Youth are the movers of change, and society should harness their energy, creativity and drive.

“This global phenomenon should provide a wake-up call for governments around the world to improve the way business is done, and to cater more meaningfully to the needs of the youth,” he said.

Anwar said that with declining trust in institutions, rising digital misinformation and uneven political participation, youth are stepping up as champions of transparency, civic responsibility and inclusive policymaking.

“Through regional channels such as the ASEAN Youth Dialogue and the African Union (AU) Youth Envoy mechanisms, they are already shaping conversations on electoral participation, anti-corruption, and social inclusion.

“Deepening ASEAN-AU collaboration, such as through exchanges between youth parliaments, would not only equip young leaders with comparative insights but also inject fresh legitimacy and energy into regional governance processes,” he said.

The forum, themed “Youth Partnership for Shared Prosperity,” was co-organised by the Ethiopian Youth Council, Pan-Africa Youth Union and the Malaysian Youth Council, and drew 250 participants.

Also present were Ethiopia’s Minister of Women and Social Affairs, Ergoge Tesfaye; Malaysia’s Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz and Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, as well as the Embassy of Malaysia in Ethiopia Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim Mohd Afandi Abu Bakar.

Ethiopia is Anwar’s first stop in his visit to the African continent. His three-day visit to the “Horn of Africa”, which began on Nov 18, concludes today.

From Addis Ababa, the Prime Minister will proceed with a working visit to Johannesburg, South Africa, from Nov 20-23 to attend the G20 Leaders’ Summit, and then to Nairobi, Kenya, from Nov 23-24.

-- BERNAMA