PENANG, 23 April 2026 – The ‘Rakan Muda: IMPAK 2026 Peringkat Kebangsaan’ programme, organised by the 'Sekretariat Rakan Muda Universiti Sains Malaysia (SRMUSM)' concluded successfully on 19 April 2026.

Two major components were implemented at the programme, namely ‘Rakan Muda: Diskusi NextGen Kali Ke-16’ and ‘Rakan Aktif: Piala Rakan Muda 2026’, involving participation from universities across Malaysia. The programme served as a national platform focusing on youth leadership development, inter-university collaboration, and the promotion of holistic student well-being through intellectual and physical engagement.

Next, the ‘Diskusi NextGen’ session, held on 18 April 2026 under the theme “Sync-Up 2026: Connecting Young Minds”, gathered more than 300 representatives from 'Rakan Muda' Secretariats of higher education institutions nationwide. The session was officiated by Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Student Development Affairs & Alumni, Professor Dr. Wan Ahmad Jaafar Wan Yahaya. The programme focused on strengthening institutional networking among student leadership bodies while encouraging discussions related to youth participation, leadership adaptability, and collaborative engagement within higher education environments.

The discourse session also highlighted the importance of structured youth platforms in developing communication skills, critical thinking abilities, and organisational competencies among university students. Through inter-university interaction and knowledge-sharing activities, participants were exposed to broader perspectives concerning student leadership practices, community engagement, and the evolving role of youth organisations in supporting national development priorities.

Meanwhile, ‘Rakan Aktif: Piala Rakan Muda 2026’, held on 19 April 2026 at the Penang Youth and Sports Complex, involved 333 participants representing 15 universities through activities such as dodgeball competitions and various mini games. The sports-based segment emphasised teamwork, discipline, strategic coordination, and active participation while promoting healthier and more balanced student lifestyles.

The programme also reflected increasing institutional emphasis on integrating physical wellness and social interaction within student development initiatives. Activities centred on collaborative sports engagement which contributed towards strengthening interpersonal relationships, team-building capabilities, and social cohesion among participants from diverse academic and institutional backgrounds.



In aligning with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, Good Health and Well-Being, and SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals, the initiative demonstrated the role of university-led youth programmes in supporting sustainable social development through strategic collaboration between student organisations, higher education institutions, and youth development agencies.

The ‘Rakan Muda' Penang Youth and Sports Department personnel responsible for the programme, Abdul Hamid Haji Mohd Yassin, stated that the programme generated positive outcomes not only for participants, but also for the broader youth community development through continuous engagement and leadership-oriented activities.

Overall, ‘Rakan Muda: IMPAK 2026’ reinforced the importance of integrated youth development platforms that combine intellectual discourse, active participation, and national-level collaboration in strengthening leadership capacity and holistic student development within the landscape of Malaysian higher education institutions.

Text: PrivinKumar Jayavanan, Media & Public Relations Centre (MPRC) / Editing: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin / Photo: Sekretariat Rakan Muda, USM