Sunday January 27, 2013

Squad Muda KDN volunteers apolitical

By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my

Lee (left) receiving a souvenir from Home Ministry deputy secretary-general Hasanah Abdul Hamid yesterday.

KOTA SAMARAHAN: The Home Ministry’s pool of youth volunteers, Squad Muda KDN, will not be mobilised to assist and facilitate any political party in the general election.

Its deputy minister Datuk Lee Chee Leong said the Govern- ment recruited the 1.14 million members to instil a sense of volunteerism and encourage them to be more involved in humani- tarian and community-based acti- vities.

Therefore, it had nothing to do with politics, he said.

“They will not be involved and mobilised in the election otherwise they will be perceived as siding a particular party,” he told reporters after launching the 1KDN assembly and state-level Gaza Emergency Fund at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak yesterday.

Sarawak has about 63,000 Squad Muda KDN members.

Under the ministry, it also has about 2.5 million volunteers nationwide comprising those from Rela, Civil Service Defence Department, National Anti-Drug Agency and Police Volunteer Reserves.

Earlier in his speech, Lee said the Squad Muda KDN membership was open to all youngsters and not just those working under the ministry.

He said the Government wished to see more youths involved in community-based humanitarian activities as part and parcel of nation building.

“We need a young genera- tion willing to help others in times of need and promoting world peace.”

Lee also praised Squad Muda KDN for initiating the Gaza Emergency Fund, which has reached about RM570,000 as at Jan 13.

The money will be handed over to Perdana Global Peace Foundation soon.

News

Sunday January 27, 2013

Squad Muda KDN volunteers apolitical

By ZORA CHAN zora@thestar.com.my

By ZORA CHAN
zora@thestar.com.my