APPRECIATION: Abdul Karim (third right) receives a souvenir from Razali (second left) after
launching the Sarawak Youth Associations Conference 2012.
KUCHING: Youth non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the state have been urged to reach out to youths to understand their needs, hear out their opinions and provide a platform to fulfill their aspirations.
Assistant Minister of Youth Development Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah who made this call yesterday, highlighted the need for youth NGOs to keep in touch with the younger generation so that their activities and programmes could attract youths.
He said even though there were various programmes held by the government, which were good, there were instances where the programmes and activities did not meet the expectations of the youth, simply because the organisers had left out their requirements.
Abdul Karim, who is also Assistant Minister of Housing said youth movements were very close to his heart because he had been actively involved in youth movements, be it political or non-political movements.
“It is only through my involvement in such movements that I am able to see the problems on the ground. As every organisation has differences in needs and opinions, I hope this conference will provide a platform for all youth NGOs to voice out your needs and opinions to be brought up to the higher level,” Abdul Karim said when launching the one-day Sarawak Youth Associations Conference 2012 at Merdeka Palace Hotels and Suites here yesterday.
Also present during the launching of the conference were permanent secretary to the Ministry of Social Development, Affandi Keli and acting director of state Youth and Sports Department, Razali Mohamad.
The Asajaya assemblyman said the state government had always been committed in looking after the interests of the youths and in encouraging them to be actively involved in youth organisations.
