Senator: Participation in Astana meet sheds insight into youth issues
MIRI: Senator Alan Ling says his participation in the ongoing ‘ International Conference on Investing in Youths’ in Astana, Kazakhstan would allow him to gain insight into global youth issues.
He also points out that such conferencesserveasgoodplatforms to put forward constructive ideas and plans to overcome issues faced by today’s youths.
“Through our participation in this international conference for youths, we can gain insight into problems faced by youths across the globe and, more specifically, on how to tackle social issues concerning Malaysian youths,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted yesterday.
Ling – the youngest senator in Dewan Negara – is representing the country at the conference together with Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Steven Sim and Muhammad Shakir Ameer Mohidin from Shah Alam Municipal Council.
The conference, organised by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the Asian Population and Development Association (APDA), gathers representatives from 35 countries.
Ling opined that youth problems in Malaysia could be attributed to three factors – drug abuse, child abuse and the right to education.
“It is important for the government’s war against drugs to focus on the masterminds, as
Through our participation in this international conference for youths, we can gain insight into problems faced by youths across the globe and, more specifically, on how to tackle social issues concerning Malaysian youths. Alan Ling, Senator
drug abuse has led to many social ills, causing families to break up and, in turn, adversely affecting the lives of children as they grow up.
“On child abuse, he said it is imperative that members of the public alert the authorities if they suspect that a child of a family member, a friend, or a neighbour is being abused.
“When it comes to child abuse, we cannot and must not adopt the ‘none of my business’ attitude,” he stressed.
On another matter, Ling lauded the federal government’s move to allow stateless children to enrol into government schools, beginning next year – stressing that the right to education is a fundamental human right.
“I had highlighted the issue of citizenship in my debut debate in the Upper House, as it concerns many native people in Sarawak. A new mechanism is needed to overcome the red tapes by simplifying the process so that the country would be able to retain those deserving talents to contribute to nation-building.”