KUALA LUMPUR: The youth must be given more opportunities to hold leadership roles in the country's political scene.
Jasin Umno division Youth chief Imanuddin Ab Aziz said to ensure continuity of the support for Umno, the party must allow fresh and young minds to lead.
"I don't see a problem if 30 to 40 per cent of members of Parliament, state assemblymen or ministers are young people," he told the New Straits Times today.
He pointed out that Umno does have a history of appointing young leaders.
“Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik became Malacca chief minister when he was 33.
“(Umno information chief) Tan Sri Annuar Musa and (former finance minister) Tan Sri Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, too, were young when they became leaders.
“So who's to say that our younger generation cannot continue this?”
Imanuddin said he hoped that the party's top leadership would listen to the voice of the Umno Youth.
He also stressed on the need to have a continuous batch of new leaders to ensure the sustainability of the party.
“I hope that senior leaders would give the younger people a chance.
“Help Umno Youth realise our chief Khairy Jamaluddin's hopes and dreams,” he added.