Take up arts, craftsmanship, those weak in academic urged

October 16, 2014

Abdul Karim (seated centre) with all the teachers and students involved in the ‘Program Pendidikan Kraf Mega Rimup-Pasca UPSR 2014’. 

KOTA SAMARAHAN: Assistant Minister of Youth Development (Urban) Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said young people who may not be good in academics should try their best to excel in arts and craftsmanship.

Speaking at the closing of ‘Program Pendidikan Kraf Mega Rimup-Pasca UPSR 2014’ at the civic centre here yesterday, he said the programme was an excellent avenue for them to pick up new talents.

“Teachers, parents and the community at large including NGOs should be involved in this type of programme so that they can keep students and/or children busy during school holidays,” he pointed out.

“This type of activities and programmes will make sure that young people channel their energy into good use instead of getting involved in activities that might lead to social ills,” he stressed.

The Assistant Housing Minister and Asajaya assemblyman also said he supported such programmes because they can develop young people into skilled or semi-skilled individuals with diversified interests.

“We also want to see how good these youths are with their hands and they might have artistic talents that they can rely upon to make a living in the future,” he added.

At the same time, he called on agencies that need his ministry’s assistance to come forward if they feel that they can help to develop youths to become employable.

He cited a well known Sarawakian artist and academician Sylvester Jussem as an example, whom he said did not do well in academics but now could make a living not only as an artist but from teaching at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas).

“So do not be afraid that one day you cannot earn a living out of it but as long as you work hard you will succeed,” he enthused.

On the programme, he wanted it to be an annual event for schools in Samarahan and even across the state because it will impact the youths of today.

Meanwhile, Samarahan District Council of Headmasters chairman Latih Lem said the programme was not only to discover talents but to forge unity and integrity among young people of different races and religions.

He said some 440 students and teachers were involved in the programme, where the young people tried their hands on making crafts from ceramic, bamboo, beads and others.

“This programme is not only to spur interest and discover talents but also to keep our arts and culture flourishing and for young people to understand their importance, apart from appreciating the aesthetic values of crafts,” he added.

Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation state director Azran Arip hoped that from the programme, young people would understand and appreciate the values of crafts and spur them to develop their talents.

The one-day programme was organised by Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation, Samarahan Education Department and Samarahan District Council of Headmasters. -TheBorneoPost