Serve nation above personal interests, youths told

0

YOUNG AMBASSADORS: Pandelela (left) with other 1Malaysia Ambassadors at the launching of the programme. — Bernama photo

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak wants youths in the country to think and contribute to the development of the community and the country, and to rise above their personal interests.

He said the government was prepared to give any aid and assistance to ensure success of activities and programmes that would benefit the people, including the young generation who were deemed as national assets.

“We want these young people not to look at themselves as individuals, but how they can serve the country above their personal interests.

“How they can, with the spirit of volunteerism, serve the community and the country as a whole so that they will become selfless individual, individual who cares for the community, who cares for others and who we can be proud of,” he said at the launch of 1Malaysia Ambassador programme yesterday.

The 1Malaysia Ambassador is a programme under the 1Malaysia For Youth (iM4U) initiative mooted by the prime minister to enable youths in Malaysia to carry out voluntary activities that would benefit the society.

Najib said the platform also provides financial support for voluntary projects under the 1Malaysia Voluntary Fund (DRe1M).

He said to inculcate the spirit of volunteerism among youths, a mass programmes involving youths across the country would be held on Feb 3.

“We will encourage various voluntary activities to be held simultaneously and I will personally be involved in the programme. All Cabinet ministers, chief ministers and menteris besar from Perlis to Sabah will also be involved in the programme,” he said.

Meanwhile, 20 youth icons who had made significant contributions to the country in various fields were named as the 1Malaysia Ambassador.

They are Datuk Nicol Ann David, Datuk Lee Chong Wei, Pandelela Rinong, Teoh Su Lim (Micheal Teoh), Deborah Priya Henry, Abdul Jabbar Mohammed Kahar (Imam Muda), Zulfahmi Khairuddin, Anand Rajaram, Roshan Chandrasekhar and Afdlin Shauki Aksan.

Others are Khairul Fahmi Che Mat, Lim Kok Gin (Jin), Lim Teik Yin (Jack), Mohammed Noh Salleh (Noh Hujan), Mohd Zhariff Afandi, Joel Neoh Eu-Jin, Nurshahila Amir Amzah (Shila Amzah), Sazlini Falak (Sazzy Falak), Shazrina Tan Sri Azman Hashim (Mizz Nina) and Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad (Altimet). — Bernama