YOUTH ‘FUTURE INVESTMENT’ OF JOHOR’
Kempas rep sends 500 students to expo to learn about state’s progress, plans
THE younger generation is the beneficiary of Johor government’s development policies, and youth must embrace this fact in order for them to effectively contribute to the state’s progress.
Kempas assemblyman Datuk Tengku Putra Haron Aminurrashid Jumat said the onus was on youth to understand what the state government was conveying at the Progressive Johor Expo in Kota Iskandar in Iskandar Puteri.
“The youth are the major beneficiaries of Johor’s development plans, such as the Johor Strategic Growth Plan 2016-2020 and other policies put in place for the coming years.
“They are our future ‘investment’. In five to seven years’ time, they will be in the job market, and reap the benefits of the development plans that are being put in place by the state government today.
“Exposing these students to the Progressive Johor Expo will give them a better understanding of the state government’s development plans,” said Tengku Putra when flagging off a group of students from SMK Sri Rahmat, who visited the expo yesterday.
About 500 students from four secondary schools in the Kempas state constituency were given an opportunity to visit the expo under a field trip arranged by Tengku Putra.
His office, with the cooperation of the state Education Department, arranged for these students to be ferried to and from the expo on 12 buses over the course of four days, starting on Monday.
Besides SMK Sri Rahmat, the other three schools involved are SMK Dato’ Abdul Rahman Yassin, SMK Tan Sri Mohamed Rahmat and SMK Taman Damansara Aliff.
Tengku Putra said he decided to send students instead of voters from his constituency to the expo because they would be reaping the rewards of plans being carried out by the Johor government and ensure continuity.
“They need to be aware of what the state government is providing for them under the leadership of Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin.
“The Progressive Johor Expo enables them to know what and how they can benefit from the state government’s plans. It is done for them to see how they, too, can contribute to the success of the state.
“Some of them will become future leaders of the country,” he said.
Tengku Putra said once the youth were equipped with better knowledge about Johor’s progress and its direction for the future, they would know how they could contribute to the state’s development.
“When they leave school and university later, they would have better knowledge of what the state government is doing.”
Tengku Putra said teachers would get students involved in the field trip to write a short essay on the expo. He said prizes would be given away by the state assemblyman’s office to the best three compositions.
SMK Sri Rahmat student Tay Rou Lang, 17, said she was delighted to be given an opportunity to visit the expo, which allowed her to obtain information about options to further her studies.
“I learnt about the expo through Facebook and from my friends, but I didn’t have the chance to visit it until today (yesterday).
“I plan to further my studies in technical engineering. By visiting the expo, I was able to find out about learning institutes and courses I can enrol in,” said Tay, a Form Five student.
Her schoolmate, Kesavan Nair Appu, 17, said he was curious to know about Johor’s achievements. Like Tay, he wanted to know about study opportunities available to him and his generation.
“My ambition is to be an engineer. And, if given a chance, I prefer to start my career in Johor.
“This field trip is an eye-opener because the expo provides an insight into what youth will gain from the many development plans carried out by the state government,” said Kesavan.
Another SMK Sri Rahmat student Sonnia Madang, 17, said the expo gave her inspiration to work in the state, which her family had called home for the past 11 years.
“My family moved to Johor from Sarawak in 2006, and I can see how rapid the progress has been in Johor since then.
“Hopefully, I can give back to the state. I want to become a doctor and the expo showcased the many higher learning institutions in Johor as well as future job opportunities.
“There is something for everyone at the expo,” said Sonnia.