Pantai Damai Youth Carnival to be an annual event, says assemblyman
KUCHING: The Pantai Damai Youth Carnival will be made an annual event for the young constituents to be actively involved in sports and other recreational activities.
According to Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, who is Pantai Damai assemblyman, the next edition of the carnival is expected to take place next February.
He adds that the proposed timeframe should provide ample time for this year’s participants to prepare for the ‘ Youth and Sports Games’ to be run by Sarawak United National Youth Organisation ( Saberkas) next year.
“Seeing the response to the inaugural Youth Carnival this year, it proves that the youths of Pantai Damai really need a platform for them to showcase their skills and sportsmanship.
“I could not agree more on having this carnival again next year, and for many more years going forward,” he said at the closing ceremony of Pantai Damai Youth Carnival 2018 at Dewan Sri Buntal near here on Sunday night.
Apart from unearthing good talents in sports, Dr Abdul Rahman said such carnival could help foster closer ties between the youths and expose them to leadership.
“I believe that we can identify our next line-up of leaders from programmes such as this carnival, because they are fully involved in the programme – from pitching in ideas, organising and running the activities, up to being involved in the games themselves.”
On a separate subject, Dr Abdul Rahman called upon all local community leaders in Pantai Damai to ensure that every village in the constituency would have its own Saberkas unit.
“From 42 ‘kampung’ (villages) and housing areas in Pantai Damai, only 24 have their own Saberkas units.
“We hope that in the next one or two years, we could see more Saberkas units being set up across this constituency,” said the assistant minister, who is also Saberkas vice- president and Saberkas Pantai Damai chairman.
Dr Abdul Rahman was accompanied by his wife Datin Siti Shorgayah Ahmad Zaiden and his private secretary Mohamad Hasfa Salleh, who is also Saberkas Pantai Damai vice- chairman, at the event.