National volunteering policy may be in pipeline

KUCHING: The National Unity Ministry is considering the need for a specific policy for the development of volunteers in Malaysia.

“The ministry will study the need to enact a National Volunteering Policy that will support the development of talent, potential and the provision of a platform for volunteering activities in this country,” said Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang.

“Following that, the ministry through Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS) will organise a National Volunteer Convention next year that will involve all volunteering bodies such as MyCorp, Rakan Muda, Impact Malaysia, Jiran Muda KRT, Malaysian Children’s Volunteer Squad (Satria) and others,” he said.

In this context he disclosed that the implementation of this volunteering mission will be continued and expanded to other states from next year onwards.

“This is because the students of higher education institutions have an important role in fueling the spirit of unity and spreading the message of unity to all Malaysians through volunteering and community service activities,” he said.

He said this in his speech read by ministry chief secretary Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof at the Warisan Budaya Bangsa dinner at Kampung Sungai Maong Multipurpose Hall here Saturday (Nov 11).

He said student volunteers involved in the on-going  ‘Ini Warisan Kita: Misi Sukarelawan Siswa ke Sarawak 2023’ programme will become volunteer icons.

The said programme which was organised by YSS involves about 95 student volunteers including 12 alumni.

According to Aaron, the programme which uses the concept of ‘immersion’ and ‘right volunteers for the right job’ coincides with the government’s desire to develop Malaysia Madani which highlights unity among fellow Malaysians.

He pointed out that the ministry through YSS plays an important role in bringing about the unity agenda through volunteering activities.

“Having said that, the theme of ‘Unity through Volunteering’ has been chosen as the main idea of YSS to develop student volunteers.

“KPN will recognise all of these YSS alumni as Ambassadors of National Unity. This is an effort to encourage their involvement in leading community projects while fostering the spirit of diversity and unity in the community,” he said.

The programme here, held from Saturday (Nov 11) to Nov 16, involves six areas in the state namely Sungai Maong (Petra Jaya), Ng Machan (Kanowit), Daha (Serian), Ba’kelalan (Lawas), Long Laput and Long Kevok (Telang Usan).

Various activities will be carried out throughout the programme including aspects of community service, education, culture, heritage and entrepreneur development such as a car park construction project in SK Daha, a hydroponic project in Kampung Sungai Maong, a solar street lighting project in Nanga Machan and social entrepreneurship in Long Kevok, Long Laput and Ba’kelalan.