(Front from left) Ripin, Abang Sardon, Ahmad Lai, Talib, Masnoor and Muhd Zailani at the forum.
MIRI: The younger generation has to prepare themselves for the future, be more patriotic and think on what they can do for the country.
In making the call, Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Integrity and Ombudsman) Datuk Talib Zulpilip said the younger generation would be nothing if they are not patriotic.
“We want the young generation to be patriotic and contribute to nation-building.
We don’t want them to think that the nation is serving them, but they serving the nation,” he said at the launching of the state-level ‘Apa Kata Gen Y’ forum at the Teachers Training Institute (IPG) here yesterday.
Talib also stressed on the importance of having a patriotic generation and one that would not be involved in corruption.
He also commended the high level of tolerance and understanding among Muslims and Christians here as evidenced by a mosque and a church sited side-by-side in Lutong, and sharing the same parking lot.
He also advised the younger generation to be careful about getting information from social media as many were false and slanderous information.
State Information Department Psychological Warfare and Issue Management unit head Masnoor Ashaari also spoke at the function.
He urged the younger generation to choose the correct media and not to spread news without even knowing the truth or the source.
Apa Kata Gen-Y forum is an activity and approach in the form of a scientific forum involving students of public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) to foster the spirit of patriotism in addition to looking at future leaders’ thinking patterns through Generation Y’s viewpoint, leadership and national sovereignty.
The Apa Kata Gen Y forum yesterday was moderated by Lambir assemblyman Ripin Lamat while the panel members consisted of Mohd Saiful Nazir (National Youth Skills Institute), Zubair Zakwan Ismawi (Industrial Training Institute), Mohd Fikri Ali (parliamentary P218 Sibuti/N72 Lambir youth representative) and Christoperson Keruka (IPG).
Sibuti MP Datuk Ahmad Lai Bujang, Muhd Zailani Jaya of IPG, State Information Department director Abang Sardon Abang Hashim, department heads and local community leaders were among those present.