KUALA LUMPUR: Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar yesterday described his appointment as the new Youth and Sports Minister as a big challenge for him to reach out to the young people and create a positive perception of the government.
“This is a very big and heavy responsibility for me especially in reaching out to the young generation, creating a more positive perception of the government and bringing the voices of the young generation into the government.”
He said this to reporters after the accepting the document of appointment and taking Oath of Office, Loyalty and Secrecy before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah, together with other
Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, at Istana Negara here yesterday.
As his portfolio were divided into youth affairs and sports, Khairy Jamaluddin said he would focus on efforts to inculcate the spirit of love for the country among the young generation and would do his level best to bring sports industry to greater heights.
“In the social media on Wednesday, I call for Harimau Malaya to try to qualify for World Cup. I don’t know how we can do that in such a short time. I know their hopes are high and I’m taking this as a challenge for me,” he said.
He said he would adopt a new approach according to his own perspective as a young person in a bid to make a transformation on the ministry’s programmes.
“I don’t know how big is the difference now but may be the previous ministers and I are from different generations, so my perspective may differ,” he said.
Khairy Jamaluddin also hoped that the new Cabinet described by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak as his Transformation Cabinet would be capable of understanding the needs of the young generation.
“I hope I can be the spokesman for the young people in the Cabinet,” he added. — Bernama