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| (from left) Len, Awangku Merali and representatives from other co-organising agencies of Tegas Youth Forum posing next to a banner to promote the event. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi |
KUCHING: The government will be holding a series of Tegas Youth Forums across the state to gather input from youths and then formulate a policy to empower them to become movers and shakers in the state’s development.
The four-part series, to be held from this month till November, is organised by the Sarawak Bumiputera Trust Fund (Tegas) in collaboration with the Workforce Development Unit of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Tegas chairman, Datu Len Talif Salleh, who is also Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Promotion of Technical Education), said the forum aimed to raise the state’s Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector to a higher level.
The government had identified TVET to play the main role in producing skilled and semi-skilled workforce in the state’s aspiration to produce a high income society and becoming a developed state within the next 15 years.
“What we are trying to achieve from these forums is to gather inputs and ideas from youths, which will be crucial in shaping government policies and the development of education, economy and social frameworks. We want to empower youths to become game changers when they lead the country,” he told a press conference at Pullman Hotel here yesterday.
Tegas chief operating officer Awangku Merali Pengiran Mohamed was also present.
The first series will held at Pullman Hotel here this Saturday, focussing on Youth Employment and Employability. The second series, on Youths and the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (Score), will be held on Sept 19 at Marriott Resort in Miri. The third series will be held at Kingwood Resort in Mukah on Oct 10, focussing on Youths and Entrepreneurship.
The fourth series will be held on Nov 21 at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK), with the main focus on Sarawak as a developed state and high income society by 2030.
The highlight of the event’s final leg is a 90-minute session with Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
Len advised youths to grab the opportunity to have a dialogue with the chief minister; to discuss issues ranging from social, economy to politics; and to know the government’s stand and policies to strengthen the state’s development. Themed ‘From Youth for Youth and by Youth’, the forum will highly focus on three main areas: job market, entrepreneurship and Score.
Its target group are those aged 18 to 35, including higher learning students and members of non-governmental organisations (NGOs). There will be keynotes speakers and forum sessions throughout the series, with panels consisting of professionals, academicians and politicians, including members of the state’s Malaysian Youth Parliament.
After the forum, Len and Social Development Minister Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom will participate in a forum entitled ‘Quo Vadis?’ to discuss on the future direction of youths from the perspective of their respective ministries.
“The chief minister has targeted to produce an average of 40,000 skilled and semi-skilled workers annually. The state recorded an average of 40,000 SPM (Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia) school leavers each year,” said Len.
There is still much to be done to ensure students are exposed to technical and vocational training for the job market, he added.
Part of the organising set up includes the Social Development Ministry, Youth and Sports Department, Education Department, Angkatan Zaman Mansang (Azam), Recoda (Regional Corridor Development Authority), State National Youth Organisation (Saberkas), and Malaysian Youth Parliament.
Those interested to participate and gather more information on the forum can go to www.tegas.gov.my. -BorneoPost.
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