Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) remains committed to enhancing the transformation of football fields under its control to maximise community benefits and generate government revenue.
The ministry is exploring opportunities to optimise the use of football fields through privatisation or public-private partnerships (PPP), enabling identified fields to be utilised more strategically. Several potential football fields and sports complexes have been earmarked for privatisation bids, allowing private sector entities or organisations to host sports tournaments and implement structured sports development programmes.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad welcomed the proposal by Legislative Council (LegCo) Yang Berhormat Pengiran Haji Isa bin Pengiran Haji Aliuddin on optimising the use of sports complexes, particularly football fields, to generate national revenue. This aligns with the ministry’s ongoing efforts to ensure that sports facilities are utilised efficiently and effectively by the public while enhancing service quality, particularly in maintenance and operations.
Football fields, including those designated for mixed use, are consistently maintained and regularly rented out. The minister also acknowledged the proposal by LegCo member Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan to update rental rates for sports facilities. The ministry is in the process of revising rental rates for football fields and sports complexes to ensure they remain reasonable and appropriate for the facilities provided.
This review considers various factors, including maintenance costs, facility standards, and added value. The goal is to ensure competitive rental rates that contribute to government revenue, which can be reinvested in upgrading and maintaining existing facilities for continued quality and comfort.
MCYS is also advancing youth development programmes to cultivate future leaders in line with the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) concept.
These efforts focus on empowering and engaging youth through leadership training, entrepreneurial incubators and micro-grant initiatives to enhance employability and facilitate business ventures.
The Youth Development Centre, Pusat Bahagia, Outward Bound Brunei Darussalam, and the National Service Programme (PKBN) oversee these initiatives. The effectiveness of these programmes is reflected in the Youth Development Centre’s marketability rate, which has reached 78 per cent, with 61 per cent securing employment, five per cent pursuing entrepreneurship, and 12 per cent continuing higher education.
Additionally, 15 PKBN alumni have been certified as trainers in its first series, marking a milestone in developing competitive young individuals ready to contribute to society.
Youth empowerment remains a priority, with opportunities for direct involvement in decision-making processes concerning youth policies and development strategies.
Platforms such as the Youth Dialogue and Forum, National Youth Congress, and Youth Town Hall play a crucial role in shaping the National Youth Policy and Strategy 2020-2035, which serves as a framework for youth development action plans.
To ensure the policy remains relevant, a continuous review and monitoring process is in place to align initiatives with current youth needs and aspirations.
More than 12,000 youth participate annually in various awareness campaigns covering mental health, religious events, green innovation, climate change, cultural heritage, arts and creativity. – Fadhil Yunus
