SIBU: While the involvement of youth in radicalism in Malaysia is quite worrisome, Sarawak remains the only state with zero involvement, said Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said no youths in Sarawak involved in radicalism.
In this regard, Abdul Karim reckoned this was also an interesting finding which Putra Jaya should not just brush aside.
Recently, Bernama quoted Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as saying in a statement that the involvement of youths in radicalism currently was rather worrisome, where 80 per cent of the arrests the police had made as of Sept 20 last year involved those under the age of 40.
Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying a comprehensive study conducted by the Malaysian Institute for Research in Youth Development had identified the tendency of youth being involved and their support for militant activities by the Daesh (ISIS) group.
Ahmad Zahid reportedly said this in a statement issued after the Cabinet Committee Meeting on Youth Development Series 5 in Putra Jaya recently.
On this, Abdul Karim said: “Actually I was in the meeting representing Sarawak Minister of Youth and Sport. Yes, the involvement of youth in radicalism and extremism in Malaysia is quite worrisome.
“Some are prepared to venture out of Malaysia and fight alongside Daesh militants in Iraq and Syria. Why they resort to this needs to be probed and looked into.
“The only consolation for Sarawak is that out of all the arrests to date for radicalism, none are from Sarawak, the only state with zero involvement. This is also an interesting finding which Putra Jaya should not just brush aside.
“Probably it has something to do with the tolerance outlook which Sarawakians of many ethnic and religious faiths have always been taught. We, however, have to always be on guard because with unchecked Internet access, radicalism can still reach our shores.”
The Asajaya assemblyman agreed that the government should always engage and stay close to the youth mindset.
They are the leaders of tomorrow and need to be guided to inherit and bring this nation to greater heights, he reasoned.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Zahid had called on all levels of society to remain alert towards factors which encouraged youths to be affected by negative influences, so that their energy and passion could be utilised in more worthwhile issues. -The Borneo Post
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