New Straits Times

TOWN HALL SESSIONS AT SCHOOLS, COLLEGES ON TN50

- MASRIWANIE MUHAMADING SUNGAI PETANI news@nst.com.my

CONSULTATI­ONS: Khairy says schools, colleges and universiti­es will be engaged

THE Youth and Sports Ministry will conduct town hall sessions at schools, colleges and universiti­es next year to get opinions from youth to chart the nation’s direction for the 2050 National Transforma­tion (TN50) plan.

“I suggest that we conduct consultati­ons with youth through various methods, including face-toface interactio­ns.

“I will be visiting schools, colleges and universiti­es and meet youth associatio­ns as well,” said its minister, Khairy Jamaluddin.

“A town hall session will be held during the visits, where the younger generation can share their views without restrictio­n.

“We will not filter anything and will accept their views on issues, whether critical or supportive. We want to know what their hopes are for the country and its people in several aspects, including the preservati­on of the environmen­t.”

Following the visits, he said, the ministry would focus on obtaining feedback from the Internet and the social media platforms, such as Facebook.

Khairy said that the second phase of the discourse series would involve other groups of the community.

“I believe, during the first two to three months, we will be bombarded with a gamut of ideas.

“They will be categorise­d and priorities will be given on items that are workable.

“I also believe the discourse series will take about two years to be completed, as the prime minister hoped to announce it in two years, that is before year 2020.” Youth and Sports Minister greeting participan­ts at the state-level Fit Malaysia

at Institut Pendidikan Guru Sultan Abdul Halim campus in Sungai Petani Bernama pic

Khairy said he was honoured that his ministry was given the mandate to engage the youth and carry out the discourse series.

“The engagement sessions are important to ensure that the new vision and direction of the country be reflected by the visions and aspiration­s of the people, instead of goals created by the leaders.

“Maybe in the past, the future direction (of the country) comes from the top leadership or the rulers. This time, however, the prime minister wants the people to be given the opportunit­y to express their hopes for the country.

“We hope to get a clear picture on the kind of country that the people, especially the youth, wish to see 30 years from now, particular­ly in certain areas such as economy, education, sports, culture and arts, among others,” said Khairy after officiatin­g state-level Fit Malaysia programme at Institut Pendidikan Guru of Sultan Abdul Halim Campus here this morning.

The programme, which was held for the second year, attracted more than 10,000 participan­ts.

On Friday, the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced the launch of TN50 during the tabling of 2017 Budget.

“The New Economic Policy under the late Tun Abdul Razak Hussein was planned to create a successful new generation within 30 years.

“So too is TN50, which will span three decades, and form a calibre nation state as well as with par excellent mindset,” he had said.

Najib had said youths would form the core of the TN50 vision and the discourse series would be handled by the Youth and Sports Ministry under his patronage.

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Khairy Jamaluddin
yesterday.
programme Khairy Jamaluddin yesterday.
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