‘Education a priority in empowering youths’
ASAJAYA: Education is a top priority when empowering the youths of Sarawak, who are the future leaders of the state and nation.
Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said that education could bring out their potential in mastering various skills.
He also divulged that out of the 2.8 million population of Sarawak, an estimated 1.197 million were youths between 15 and 40.
“The government sees youths as an integral part of the state and nation’s development.
“At the state-level, my ministry is tasked to organise a youth programme (Jelajah Belia Sarawak 2019), which will be held in every district to understand and get to know the youth’s aspirations at the grassroots level,” Abdul Karim said when declaring open Jelajah Belia Sarawak 2019 and Sesi Sembang Belia at the Asajaya Sports Complex here yesterday.
He added that the state cabinet had agreed to organise Jelajah Belia Sarawak in Sarawak’s 40 districts.
“We want to go down to the ground to see and hear their aspirations, and collect their needs and wants. This is one of our efforts, and we hope that our youths will become more excellent in the future,” Abdul Karim said.
Earlier, permanent secretary to the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports, Hii Chang Kee, said Asajaya District was picked to be the first location of the programme.
“This programme serves to bring the youths closer to our leaders, and also a platform to bring out their potential through beneficial activities that are included in the programme.
“I hope that youths will take this chance to involve themselves in every beneficial activity during the programme,” Hii said.
Assistant Minister of Youth and Sports Datuk Snowdan Lawan, Kota Samarahan MP Rubiah Wang, Daro assemblyman Safiee Ahmad, Samarahan Resident Ibrahim Lumpu, MPKS chairman Dato Peter Minos, Saberkas exco Dato Ahmad Ibrahim, and Abd Karim’s wife Datin Zuraini Abdul Jabbar were among those present.