Izah Azahari
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) strongly supports and emphasises youth involvement and welcomes the proposal to create a youth icon suggested by Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat Abdul Aziz bin Haji Hamdan during the 19th LegCo session yesterday.
The LegCo member noted the imbalance in youth mobilisation and activities may be due to several factors, including the lack of leaders among the youth to lead the mobilisation of any activities, programmes and projects in line with the youth’s wishes.
“A youth icon will be a playmaker who is able to spark creative ideas in preparing programmes and projects to bring the youth to be active.
To ensure empowerment, the government can provide initiatives that it deems appropriate,” added the LegCo member.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Nazmi bin Haji Mohamad said the ministry’s support of youth is in line with the goals of the National Youth Policy and Strategy 2020-2035 of being inclusive in its national development.
“Every year, we celebrate the National Youth Day, specifically to pay homage to youth contribution to the country’s development,” the minister said.
He also said the various awards earned by local youth at the international level such as the Queen’s Young Leader’s Award, Commonwealth Points of Light Award, ASEAN Prize, and ASEAN Business Awards, are a testament of their contributions both regionally and internationally.
“We are proud of the youth’s achievements. Therefore, the MCYS will look at and examine the suitability of award recipients, so they will be able to play an important role as youth icons in bringing more young people together to be active in contributing to the country’s development.”
The minister also encourages cooperation of penghulus and village heads in encouraging the involvement of youth, especially through mukim and village consultative councils, to ensure youth development agendas are truly inclusive.
