Putrajaya will now compel every ministry and agency to provide allowances for their interns, says Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

This was decided in a cabinet meeting today, the youth and sports minister said in a statement.

“The payment scheme to interns will be evaluated based on several criteria which will be set, and it will be implemented for the interns’ convenience.

“This is the start of a policy for paid internship, and I hope it will be set as a standard in Malaysia, cutting across public and private sectors,” he said.

Syed Saddiq pointed out that at present, there are many government agencies which do not pay their interns at all.

Under the new initiative, the amount paid to interns will depend on each ministry and agency, as well as the level of internship.

Non-graduates undergoing practical training will get a minimum of RM15 a day, while those with SPM certification who are daily part-time officers will receive RM54 per day.

“The youth and their welfare should be uplifted and refined at every stage of the administration, especially since the Dewan Rakyat approved the amendments for Undi 18.

“Youths need to start leading the country today, not just for the future,” he said.

Syed Saddiq also noted that Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has agreed to hold a special cabinet meeting to discuss issues related to youth, in which he will bring up the paid internship initiative in the private sector.