MIRI: Sarawak is committed to empowering its young people with the knowledge and skills they need in order to shape the future of this state.
“We want our youths to be healthy and equipped with knowledge and become future leaders that will lead the state towards a thriving economy and for the state’s development,” said Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
Speaking at the launching of the state level National Youth Day celebration here today, he said youths are a crucial segment of Sarawak and Malaysia’s development and their contributions are highly needed.
Citing the establishment of the Youth Parliament of Malaysia which allowed young people aged between 18 and 25 to participate, as an insight on the Parliament of Malaysia, he added that it helped raise their awareness on how the government was working.
“We want our young people to have integrity, honesty and reliability in leadership to bring Sarawak into greater heights. Of course we would not want to see this state to be led by leaders who are corrupt and only think about their own pockets. We want to see the youths today in Sarawak to be responsible,” Abdul Karim pointed out.
For the upcoming 15th general election, he reminded the youths, especially those aged 18 who will be able to cast their ballots for the first time, to vote wisely.
In July 2019, Parliament had approved a bill reducing the voting age for general elections from 21 to 18 years old after 211 out of 222 lawmakers supported the amendments to Malaysia’s federal constitution which allowed the changes to be introduced.
Also present at the state level celebration were Deputy Minister for Youth, Sports and Entreprenuer Development I Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and Deputy Minister for Youth, Sport and Entreprenuer Development II Dr Ripin Lamat.
More than 400 youths attended the programme held at the National Youth Skill Training Institute Miri (IKBN).
