UMNO Youth

The UMNO Youth Movement (Malay: Pergerakan Pemuda UMNO; Jawi: ) or more known simply as UMNO Youth is the youth wing of Malaysia's grand old party the United Malays National Organisation. Primarily for members aged 18 to 40, the goal of its establishment is to represent Malay and Bumiputera male youths. Since March 2023, the current UMNO Youth Chief is Merlimau state assemblyman (MLA) Muhamad Akmal Saleh. The youth wing of UMNO are separated with the women's youth wing or Puteri UMNO as well as the student wing of the party which is UMNOSiswa.

Establishment
With the party's mission to liberate the nation from British colonialism, UMNO's machinery was enhanced, one of which was the foundation of a youth wing on August 26, 1949, in Butterworth, Penang. The conference chose Captain Hussein Onn as the first youth chief and named it "Perikatan Pemuda UMNO". After Hussein was appointed UMNO Secretary-General in August 1950, the leadership was passed on to Abdul Razak Hussein.

Mission
The UMNO Youth Movement was established after the party felt that the youth wing needed to have its own organization as a backup line for the UMNO leadership. Before being eligible and prepared to lead the entire division, members must first be active within the youth levels of the party as a sign to test their leadership at an early age amongst grassroot members. Hence, the position of UMNO youths is like a party within a party. Sensitive issues are often voiced by youth because youths are "hot-blooded" and more "determined".

Hierarchy
The UMNO Youth is led by the youth chief, followed by the vice youth chief and 20 youth executive committee members or "EXCOs" which all are elected through UMNO party elections. The youth chief would then have the executive power to appoint the secretary, treasurer, information chief, executive secretary and 5 to 10 youth EXCOs. There are other positions such as permanent chairman and deputy permanent chairman who holds less executive power within the youth wing where they are in charge of chairing the annual UMNO grand national assembly or Perhimpunan Agung UMNO for the youth wing.

All of the positions mentioned are apparent in various levels, which it can be present at branch level, followed with divisional, to state, and finally national. Oftentimes, most national youth leaders hold divisional posts. For example, Muhamad Akmal Saleh and Nazif Najib are both division heads of their respective constituencies, and various national youth EXCOs are also youth division heads. In order to hold divisional, state or national level positions, all youth leaders must first hold branch level positions beforehand.

Current leadership
The list below shows the current 2023/2026 UMNO Youth leadership.

Youth Chiefs of UMNO
The Youth Chief of UMNO acts as the penultimate leader of the entire youth wing of the party where it holds the same authority compared to the President but only limited to the youth wing. Throughout Malaysian political history, four former Youth Chiefs of UMNO which are Hussein Onn, Abdul Razak Hussein, Najib Razak, and Anwar Ibrahim has served as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

UMNO Youth Anthem
Translation: We are Malaysian youths, United with our strength and energy, Struggle and sacrifice our body and soul, For the survival of the nation

The nation's hope for youths, To defend and serve, By building a wealthy nation, For the Malaysian motherland

Let's unite and pledge, Confess and swear, Uphold the national religion, And be earnest and loyal

We are Malaysian youths, A stronghold of steel, In defense of religious sovereignty, As well as race and country