SIBU: Several state Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders have praised the formation of the Sibu BN Youth Committee.
It comprises youth wing members from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP), Parti Rakyat Sarawak (PRS) and Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP).
State BN Youth chief Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof described the setting up of the committee as a positive move.
“In PBB Youth, we do have our zone committee members and by having BN Youth at zone level will make it more effective for our BN youth to coordinate and organise events, and so on,” the Works Minister told The Borneo Post yesterday.
State BN secretary-general Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom said anything to strengthen the coalition is very much welcome.
“And they must come up with programmes that are attractive to the youth and may collaborate with my ministry’s youth programmes, not just political but all aspects,” said the Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Rural).
Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah pointed out that the Sarawak BN Youth has always seen good cooperation between the youth wings of all four component parties.
“Definitely it will strengthen BN further in its preparation to win back all lost seats as well as retain all BN seats presently held by BN,” said the Asajaya assemblyman.
He concurred with opinions that young voters play a key role in deciding the government of the future.
“Young voters make up about more then half of all eligible voters. Their views and expectations cannot be put aside totally. They are a major force; not only in Sarawak but also in other states in Malaysia. They are an educated lot and have a mind of their own.
“They can analyse and rationalise whatever the government and BN are doing as well as the opposition. Yes, I fully agree that those that could get the support of the young voters will win the next state as well as the next 14th general election,” he said.
Following its inaugural meeting, Sibu BN Youth Committee chairman Chieng Jin Ek had said among the committee’s core objectives is to prepare for the coming state election.
Chieng added that having all four BN component youth wings work together would strengthen their efforts towards this objective.