Haris (fourth left) and Sebastian (fourth right) pose with the winners of the state-level Youth Award.
KUCHING: State Angkatan Belia Islam Malaysia (Abim) executive secretary Mahathir Fatimah was the recipient of the state-level Youth Award for individual category at a ceremony held at the State Youth and Sports Complex here on Saturday night.
The 38-year-old has been involved actively in the youth association ever since he was 21.
Due to his commitment and contribution towards youth development, he was appointed as the executive secretary for Abim in 2003.
His involvement and experience gained through ABIM had led him to form his own youth club named Petra Jaya Youth Club to pursue his struggle to develop quality human capital for the betterment of the state and the nation.
“I have learned a lot from the seniors and at the same time I built my network with government agencies and NGOs,” he told reporters.
“The award is recognition for what I have contributed. Thus, the award itself doesn’t really matter, what matters the most is one’s contribution in making a change to society on ways to develop our youth.”
At the same time, he urged youth to play their role in spurring the nation to greater heights.
“This is why we have to work hard in developing the youth,” he said.
He disclosed that he planned to organise two expedition this year – namely ‘Jenayah Asnaf’ and ‘Kembara Aman’ – in conjunction with the month of Ramadan, and possibly a ‘Youth Expedition’ also within this year.
For the award, Mahathir received cash of RM3,000 and a certificate from the state.
Meanwhile, Youth Malaysia Movement Sarawak branch won the Youth Organisation category and received RM8,000.
In second place was PBSM which received RM4,000.
Present were Ministry of Youth and Sports and Solidarity administrative officer Sebastian Sujang Damu and state Youth and Sports director Abdul Haris Ishak.