Youth engagement in politics: insights from Malaysia

The 2017 Saad Lecture was given by the Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports, the Honourable Khairy Jamaluddin.

2017 Saad Lecture

April 2017

Malaysia’s Youth and Sports Minister, the Honourable Khairy Jamaluddin, will speak on the involvement of youth in politics to effect change.

After noting how and why government policies around the world tend not to favour youth, the Minister emphasises the power they have as consumers and underline the importance of their voice in solving the challenges nations face.

He argues that young people need the opportunity to run their own programmes, discusses how his government is seeking to further opportunities for the Malaysia’s youth, and explores how governments could work together more to increase youth participation in formal political processes.

Speaker Bio

Minister Jamaluddin is Malaysia’s youngest cabinet minister. He received his Bachelor's degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE) from St. Hugh’s College, Oxford University and Master's degree in Legal and Political Theory from University College London.

Prior to entering politics, he worked as a journalist, policy aide and investment banker. He has written for many major publications including The Economist, Time and the Wall Street Journal, and serves as an airborne paratrooper and Commander of the 508 Regiment in the Malaysian Territorial Army. In 2005, the World Economic Forum in Davos selected him as a Young Global Leader.