‘Sarawak has best system for youths’

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KUCHING: Sarawak has the best system to develop its youths, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.

UNITING YOUTHS: (From left) Jabu is seen with YPS secretary Mark Noel Bonchol and Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd event executive Samson Tan. The competition will begin next week and run until Jan 18 next year.

He said the system has the ability to unite youths, give them freedom of expression and ideas, as well as space to explore their talents and shine.

“Regardless of their race, religion and culture, all youths are equally important assets that blend together. They can explore anything with their imagination and combining the various ethnic elements into one artwork and illustration. Do not stop their imagination,” he said yesterday during a press conference on the upcoming Heritage for Unity-Design Competition.

He added that the system also aims to forge a strong sense of community, identity, rootedness and sense of belonging to the state.

Jabu likened the state’s youths to “many tributaries in Sarawak, which eventually combine into one main river”.

He said Sarawak’s youths come from at least 28 races, which is unique compared to other states.

“Such a uniqueness makes us very rare and our system has proven successful in developing and developed countries in the world.

“They are an important component mechanism to transform our society. Youths from 18 until 35 years of age are the most active range of population and we will assist in whatever possible ways that we can to lift up their aspirations,” he said.

Jabu, who is also Sarawak Unity Foundation (YPS) board of trustees deputy chairman, said the strong bond between youths in the state would lead to stability in terms of politics, socially, and the economy.

“This will make Sarawak a prosperous state in Malaysia by 2025.”

He also stressed that Budget 2012 announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak also allocated about RM100 million for youths and their activities.

“This clearly shows that our government is very serious in focusing on the development of youths in the country.”

Meanwhile, the competition will run from next week until Jan 18, 2012.

Jabu said the event would allow diversified ideas from local artistic talents to shine.

“There is a need to explore into the minds of the youths in the state and present the best collective ideas to society for thought.”

The first prize is RM10,000, followed by RM6,000 (second prize), RM3,000 (third prize) and RM1,000 (fourth prize).

The competition is part of activities for the Sarawak Youth for Unity 2011 event launched by Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud early this year.

YPS is organising the event together with the Sarawak Development Institute (SDI) and Faradale Media-M Sdn Bhd.