Congress Proposes Youth Parliament
By Za'im Zaini

Bandar Seri Begawan - The 1st National Youth Congress ended on a high note yesterday with the presentation of the congress' resolutions during a dialogue with several ministers at the International Convention Centre.

The top government officials present were Culture, Youth and Sports Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Awang Haji Mohammad bin Hj Daud as the host minister; Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Haji Awang Mohd Zain, Minister of Religious Affairs; Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Adanan, Minister of Home Affairs; Dato Seri Paduka Haji EusoffAgaki, Deputy Minister at the Prime Minister's Office; Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Awang Hj Dani, Deputy Minister of Home Affairs; and Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Awang Hj Hamdillah.

The resolutions were made after three days of discussions on five core topics - Youth and Leadership; Youth and Society; Training and Employment; Role of NGOs in Youth and Nation's Development; and Entrepreneur Opportunities among Youths.

Presenting the resolutions on the topic Youth and Leadership was Ak Kamal Ghadafi bin Pg Hj Suhaimi that called for the establishment of a "youth parliament" to appoint youth representatives in the Legislative Council in order to give an opportunity to youths to give their ideas and "enhance" themselves.

The Youth and Leadership resolutions also called for the appointment of youths to represent Brunei at international organisations; a special allocation for youth development programmes; and the enhancement of the role of the government and NGOs in enhancing youth leadership.

The resolutions also called for a school or faculty for social workers at higher learning institutions to handle student-related issues such as their welfare.

Meanwhile, Md Fahmi Bin Hj Abas presented the resolutions on Youth and Society which acknowledged that youth involvement in social ills is on the rise and that the participation of youths in community work is still low.

Thus, they called for action plans that include the review of the youth national policy; teaching youths living skills in order to become independent; establishing a youth social centre; and a review of projects such as "Belia Cinta Tanah Air".

The resolutions on Training and Employment of Youths, read out by Haji Zupri Bin Hj Kamis, noted the need for the introduction for an education system/curriculum to "mould" youths to be more innovative, entrepreneurial and creative.

The resolutions also called for new courses to meet the needs of industrial diversification; introduction of a national service, establishment of a music and theatre centre; and setting up of a centre for youths who have graduated from higher learning institutions.

Among the action plans proposed by the resolutions are to establish a body to assist youths interested to work overseas; and a review of the policy on employment of the local workforce and in the public service.

The resolutions on the Role of NGOs in Youth and Nation's Development, read out by Dyg Meela Adreeyana Binti Hj Aliuddin, called for NGOs to raise "understanding" in society through roadshows, web sites and the mass media.

The Entrepreneurial Opportunities among Youths in Brunei's resolutions, read out by Iswandy Bin Ahmad, touched on the need for a mindset change; reduction in red tape; giving young entrepreneurs priority in tenders; and for the public and private sector, including the mass media, to market local products.

The resolutions also called for an update of formal and informal education to encourage independence and life skills, especially in entrepreneurship; establishment of a youth entrepreneur centre; implementation of roadshows in Mukims and villages to instil interest among youths in entrepreneurship; and setting up of an entrepreneur school. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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