Rokiah Mahmud
Permanent Secretary (Youth) at the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) Haji Zakaria bin Haji Serudin said youth are a critical component in national development as they are regarded as dynamic stakeholders of the country.
“As we just celebrated the 17th National Youth Day, themed ‘Future-Ready Youth’, we hope the youth will be ready to face future challenges, especially in the context of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 and the development of the digital economy in the new norm that offers opportunities and changes,” he said.
“Future-ready youth is described as those with the internal and external quality to deal with changes. On this note, the youth are urged to have noble character and practise the Bruneian way of life in a bid to strengthen the culture of solidarity.”
The permanent secretary said this in a speech at the Religious Teachers University College of Seri Begawan’s (KUPU SB) intensive workshop on ‘Belia Syumul Harapan Negara’.
The workshop saw the presentation of premier paper on ‘Membangun Belia Syumul Berasaskan Sunnah’ by Ra’es of KUPU SB Dr Haji Adanan bin Haji Basar.
The Ra’es explained that to have faith, piety and syumul, the youth need to always refer to Al-Quran and As-Sunnah. They also need to learn the life journey of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and take As-Sunnah as an example, including the recitation of Selawat.
“Building syumul youth also means to build their spirituality by practising ablution, reciting Surah Al-Fatihah, performing congregational prayers, understating wirid, doa and zikir, as well as reading Al-Quran as part of the daily routine,” he added.
Associate Professor from the Centre of Research and Understanding of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah of KUPU SB Professor Dr Muhammad Yusuf bin Khalid in his main paper outlined that today’s era comes with challenges and youth need to be prepared by strengthening their mind and identity.
Among the topics highlighted is Strengthening Aqidah of Ahli Sunnah Wal Jama’ah, Belia Pencinta Al-Quran and Hadith, Youth Leadership According to Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB), and Belia Pemerkasa Jawi dan Kitab Turath.
Participants included Da’ie, mosque youth, volunteers, Youth Development Centre trainees, National Service Programme alumni and students of higher learning institutions.
