CAREFULLY DOES IT: Hanifah planting an orchid, aided by Au Yong at Rumah Perkim. Looking on are Sharifah Mordiah (fourth left), Dayang Jalilah (third left) and others.
KUCHING: Muslim Welfare Organisation of Malaysia (Perkim) Sarawak Division wants to encourage more youths to participate in activities and programmes hosted by Perkim.
Its chairperson Datin Hanifah Taib-Alsree noted that youths were generally not interested in Perkim activities as they perceived it to be for ‘old people’.
Thus, Perkim’s focus now is to change that wrong perception among youths.
“The involvement of youths is very important as they are going to continue the leadership of Perkim in the future,” she said when met after an orchid-planting initiative at Rumah Perkim yesterday.
“In any organisation, the combination of young and old members is necessary to keep up with current developments and to stay relevant to all.”
Perkim has 14 branches in the state, and boasts over 4,000 members.
The orchid planting event formed part of the activities for Perkim’s 25th anniversary celebration this year.
The event started at 7.30am with a Tai Chi session, followed by the launching of Perkim Mini Orchid Garden. Some 100 people were present.
Au Yong Kien Chung from Orchidwoods Co donated 40 orchids which were planted around Rumah Perkim.
Other programmes planned for this year include Training for Trainers on Feb 17-19. It will be held for members from Kuching, Lundu, Kota Samarahan, Serian, Sebuyau and Sri Aman.
Another session will be arranged for members from other districts on a later date. The aim of the course is to improve the participants’ knowledge and interpersonal communication skills.
Also present were deputy chairperson Datin Noraini Hussain, Perkim Kuching Branch chairperson Datuk Sharidah Mordiah and organising chairperson Dayang Jalilah Tun Sallahuddin.