Give support to young organisers when approached for assistance, govt officials told

KUCHING (Sept 2): Government officials as well as those from its agencies should do their best to support the youths when approached for assistance, said Dato Sri Abdul Karim Hamzah.

The Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak said he had recently learned that there were occasions where some young organisers for upcoming events were ignored by government officials.

“I heard that some of them, upon seeing the youths, did not really entertain them.

“I am not very happy about this and personally, I feel a little bit offended by this gesture.

“But I will look into the roots of the problem,” he told a press conference at his office in Baitulmakmur Building II here today.

The minister stressed that young leaders or organisers of events who approached the officers at the ministry or government agencies for assistance must be given due respect.

“This is regardless of whether it is an agency under my ministry, or even other agencies that are not under the ministry.

“When the tourism or hospitality industry progresses, they all want to take credit, but when it comes to assisting these young organisers, it’s very difficult to get them to support,” he said.

Abdul Karim said the state wanted to develop the youths of Sarawak to become leaders of tomorrow.

“We don’t want to see only the older generation organising events such as cultural shows,” he said.