Over 300 youths to meet CM at Betong town hall session
KUCHING: Over 300 youths from throughout Sarawak are expected to take part in the town hall session with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan Sports Hall in Betong on Oct 28.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the session is one of highlights of the state-level Youth Day Celebration 2017.
“This is a much- awaited event where youths from Betong and other parts of Sarawak have a town hall session with the chief minister.
“Youths nowadays love to have a dialogue with the chief minister. This year, we will have the youth town hall session with the chief minister after the official opening on Oct 28,” he told a press conference at his office here yesterday.
Abdul Karim said the session would involve 300 to 400 youths comprising mostly students of higher learning institutions and upper secondary schools as well as members of youth organisations and associations.
He said the youths would interact with the chief minister on government policies, opportunities for youths, and the leader’s vision for the youth, among others.
“From what I heard during the ‘ Lan Berambeh’ programme in Kuala Lumpur recently, the issues that came from the youths were mostly concerning their hope and future.
“I think the questions in the coming town hall session will more or less be along the same line,” he said.
Abdul Karim said another much awaited event would be the presentation of youth awards to outstanding individuals and associations.
He said the committee had decided to reduce the number of awards this year because it did want not to see too many icons announced.
“Even at national level, only three awards are given. Before, we gave many awards until we had problem identifying the icons.
“So this year, we reduce it to three, to be given to those whom the committee feels deserve to be awarded,” he said, adding that each recipient would receive a certificate, trophy and some cash incentive.