SHAH ALAM, Nov 8 – Should Parti Amanah Negara allow party members to join its young women wing, WARDA, even past the age of 35?
This will be one of four motions debated by Parti Amanah Negara’s delegates tomorrow at the party’s National Convention 2025.
The first motion up for debate is the proposed increase of the age limit for Amanah’s young women wing from 35 to 40.
The three other motions to be debated are:
• Restructuring the eligibility for the federal government’s Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) cash aid based on localised living costs;
• Reviewing Malaysia’s current electoral system of “First Past the Post” in favour of a new system known as “Proportional Representation”;
• Urging the government to draft laws for artificial intelligence and digital integrity.
Amanah vice-president Datuk Mohd Hatta Ramli, who also chaired the committee reviewing all 48 motions proposed by delegates, announced the four finalised motions this evening.
He explained that of the 48 motions, eight were accepted for debate and were combined into the four motions to be debated tomorrow.
Of the remaining motions, 10 were rejected, 12 were accepted without the need for debate, and 18 were accepted as recommendations.
In terms of category, the 48 proposed motions included 22 on government policies, two on Pakatan Harapan and the unity government, seven on strengthening and administering Amanah, eight on amending Amanah’s party constitution, and nine on Amanah’s party elections in 2026.
The Amanah National Convention this year runs for two days and will end tomorrow.
Why delegates want age 40 and not 35
Four of the 48 motions proposed by Amanah’s delegates called for WARDA’s age limit to be raised from 35 to 40, namely from Amanah Selangor, Amanah Terengganu, Amanah’s Shah Alam division and Amanah’s Kuala Terengganu division.
At a glance, the motions pointed out that Amanah’s youth wing currently has an age limit of 40, and argued that the young women wing WARDA should have the same limit.
The motions also highlighted that many women only start to become politically active after 30 due to factors such as studies, careers, and family responsibilities, and that the current age limit of 35 restricts leadership opportunities within WARDA.
They further noted that women aged 30 to 40 are at the peak of their maturity and stability, and extending the age limit would help ensure continuity in women’s leadership within the party.
WARDA was set up six years ago, in 2019.
Currently, the age limit for youths in Malaysia is 40 years old.
Last month, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in his Budget 2026 speech that Malaysians will only be considered youths up to age 30 from next year onwards.
In July, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the federal government is firm in its decision to reduce the age ceiling for Malaysian youths to 30 from January 1, 2026.
