More state funding for organisations to engage the young positively in programmes
Youths put on a Chinese martial arts performance as Adenan, his wife Jamilah (background, wearing red tudung) and others look on.
BINTULU: The Ministry of Social Development will receive more funding from the state to help organisations hold more activities that help youths to channel their energy positively.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem said it is also vital for the spirit of voluntarism to be cultivated among the young.
“I have given instructions to the Ministry of Social Development to organise as many activities for our young people as possible. I will increase your allocation. The young people must be kept busy every day because they are full of energy. Don’t waste it for unfavourable activities,” he said when launching the state-level Youth Day Celebration 2015 yesterday.
He stressed the funds must only be used for activities that can truly benefit youths and not for other events such as dinners and unrelated activities.
Adenan also announced that any state land in town areas not being used could be released and converted into football fields.
“I don’t want people playing football either in the roundabout or in a ditch because there is no field. I will give the use of the land to play football. It is a shame because so much land but we cannot afford to build the proper fields,” he said.
On the Sports Development Act, the Chief Minister said it may not be suitable to extend the Act to Sarawak as the state currently has the advantage of holding activities that benefit Sarawakians.
“We don’t want Kuala Lumpur, some officials and bureaucrats in Kuala Lumpur to dictate to us what our sports activities are to be.
“If we want to organise something, we have to get their permission. No. It will kill the spirit of voluntarism and it will not be applied here,” he said.
He called on youths to be innovative and ensured that the government would listen to what they have to say.
“I think it is high time also and don’t just let the old people work,” he said, adding he is confident that the future of the state would be safeguarded by young and capable Sarawakians.
Adenan said he understood the problems faced by youths, especially in terms of jobs, business opportunities and fresh graduates having to leave Sarawak to find employment elsewhere because of a lack of jobs.
“The government’s function therefore is to provide more jobs, create more industries, create more enterprise, for the specific jobs that will be available as the generation comes forward to join the labour force.
Time for us to change our mindset because we are on the road to industrialisation — Adenan
Scouts salute as Adenan walks past.
“Those who are technically competent will easily find a job in the industry, it has been proven. It is time for us to change our mindset, from emphasising fully on academic qualifications, we must also have skilled manpower because we are on the road to industrialisation,” he pointed out.
Adenan called on youths to equip themselves to meet the demands of industry.
“The job market will be waiting for you if you have a technical education, the emphasis now is technical education. Bintulu has risen up from what it was before because of people who are skilled in what they do. We want to follow their example — Bintulu and Samalajau will be the industrial hub of Sarawak, right in the middle of the country,” he said.
Adenan also called for the English language to be given greater emphasis.
“I agree with the Sultan of Johor — we must put emphasis on the use of English because it is an international language.
“We in Sarawak must be competent not only in Bahasa Malaysia, our mother language, but also English as it is the language of multinational big companies,” he added.
As Sarawak will host the upcoming Malaysia Games (Sukma), Adenan also called on the state’s athletes to top the medal tally and be ready to shine at the tournament.
Among those present were Adenan’s wife Datin Patinggi Datuk Jamilah Anu, Minister of Social Development Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom, State Legislative Assembly speaker Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, State Secretary Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Morshidi Abdul Ghani, Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Rural) Datuk Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip and Bintulu Resident Muhamad Yakup Kari.
Youths in traditional costumes lead the pledge.
A taekwondo troupe performs for Adenan and his entourage.