Don’t marginalise youths, community leaders told
MIRI: Community leaders are reminded against marginalising the youths in villages.
Instead, they should encourage them to participate in programmes and activities organised in the villages, said Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat.
“Youths are the source of our human capital and they are also the future leaders of our state.
“Thus, it is important for community leaders to be close to the young people in their areas and always listen to their needs,” he stated in his address at the presentation of certificates of appointment to community leaders for Lambir and Piasau constituencies at Miri Resident’s Office yesterday.
Ripin said it was sad to hear that some youths in some areas, particularly in villages, did not even know who their community leaders were.
“Living in the modern era, we should not allow this to happen as the community leaders must include these youths in their contact list too.
“The social ills involving the youth are not something new to us.“That’s why we must bring them back to the right path and give them space to develop themselves. Although they might be problematic in the village, do not drop them from the village list. Otherwise, the social problems involving the youth would not be resolved.”
In view of that, Ripin urged the community leaders to give their total support to the Sarawak government’s effort to tackle social ills among the youths to ensure that it would be effective.
At the same time, he encouraged community leaders to organise more social interaction programmes with the youths in the areas under their jurisdiction.
He believed by doing so, the youths in their villages would grow in a healthy environment and join the others in contributing positive input for development.
In addition to that, he also reminded the community leaders of the need to keep abreast with latest developments as well as to look after the welfare and interests of the people in their areas.
Piasau assemblyman Datuk Sebastian Ting, who was also present, urged the community leaders to always be the ‘ears and eyes’ of the government.
Also present were Miri Resident Mastapa Julaihi, Miri District officer Abdul Aziz Mohd Yusuf and Subis District officer Jamalie Busri.
Some 15 community leaders, mostly from Lambir constituency, received their appointment and service extension letters.
Youths are the source of our human capital and they are also the future leaders of our state. Ripin Lamat, Lambir assemblyman