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KOTA KINABALU: Consolidated efforts must continue to guide and aid youths to unearth their full potential for the development of the community and country, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said youths are the future of the nation and they are those who will steer the country in various aspects and industries of life.
“For this, the state government remains committed to youth development as we strive to create knowledgeable, skilled and leadable youth,” he said.
Hajiji said existing efforts must pair with a holistic approach and cooperation from all parties so that these objectives can be achieved better.
He said this at the 40th anniversary dinner for the Malaysian Youth Movement, Sabah branch here, Saturday (Sept 7). His speech was delivered by state Youth and Sports minister Datuk Ellron Angin.
Listing out several initiatives, he said the state had allocated RM100.17mil for youth development efforts, of which RM16.89mil is for all sorts of youth empowerment activities.
There are also numerous human capital platforms laid out to assist youth, as quality workforces are required to bring the country to greater economic and social heights, Hajiji said.
“The youth are our future leaders, movers of economy, culture and education,” he said.
With that, strong and systematic youth-related organisations or movements such as the Malaysian Youth Movement are very much needed to complement youth empowerment efforts.
Hajiji hopes that the movement would create more opportunities for youth of various cultural and social backgrounds to be part of the organisation.
He urged the Malaysian Youth Movement to reach out to more youth, especially those in the suburbs and interiors so they can also participate in training, education programmes, counselling and social skills learning among other things.
“So far, the movement, a five-star youth organisation, has managed to play an important role in helping to empower young people in Sabah,” he said.
Many youths had received guidance and had their talents - regardless of which fields - sharpened through the movement, Hajiji said.
He said these youth came back with better critical thinking skills, and are more mature politically, culturally, economically and education-wise.
He hopes the movement and other youth organisations will continue to contribute to creating quality and better youth communities in the state.
“This is in line with the government’s policy of creating quality human capital in the country,” added Hajiji.
