Hystoric NYC Findings To Get Top Attention
By Dewi Mohd Sofri

Bandar Seri Begawan - In what can be described as a rare and historic meeting between some of the country's leaders and youth representatives, the three-day National Youth Congress (NYC 2008) ended on a positive note with promising and brighter outlook of the future.

The NYC came up with parallel issues revolving on enhancing leadership qualities through more exposure and support.

"The needs that were debated will be studied deeply and thoroughly and we will draw up the relevant plans," said Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud at the closing which took place yesterday at the International Convention Centre in Berakas.

He was one of the six ministers and deputy ministers representing His Majesty's government during the NYC presentation and dialogue session. The others were Minister of Religious Affairs, Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Awg Mohd Zain Hj Serudin, Minister of Home Affairs, Pehin Orang Kaya Johan Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Adanan Begawan Pehin Siraja Khatib Dato Seri Setia Hi Mohd Yusof and Deputy Pehin Orang Kaya Dewa Pahlawan Dato Paduka Hj Dani Hj Ibrahim as well as Dato Seri Paduka Hj Eusoff Agaki Hj Ismail and Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab, deputy ministers at the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

They gave assurance that all the resolutions and actions plans presented by the five speakers representing the nation's youth will be accepted and considered by the government, a declaration witnessed by an audience of some 400 people comprising of the NYCparticipants, students from the Youth Development Centre as well as other invited guests from the public and private sectors.

The ceremony began with a briefing by Deputy Minister Hj Ahmad Hj Abd Rahman, as the deputy chairman of the congress before introducing and welcoming the speakers to present their group's resolutions.

Each of the ministers and deputy ministers were later invited to give their individual comments before beginning the dialogue session.

"There are a lot of ideas that were brought forward and good ones that must not be ignored. What is most important now is the action that comes after this," said Dato Paduka Hj Dani adding that the action plans should give them more encouragement to become more diligent in pursuing their goals.

Unfortunately, the time allocated for the dialogue was cut short and the youth representatives only managed to squeeze out two questions from the five of them which was voiced out by group leaders from "Youth and Training and Employment" and "NGOs, their Role in Youth and National Development", Hj Zupri Hj Kamis, from Livewire Brunei Network and Meela Adreeyana Hj Aliuddin from the Ministry of Health, respectively.

The three other speakers were Fahmi Abas from the Mosque Affairs Department, Ak Kam,al Ghadafi Pg Hj Suhaimi, a Commonwealth Youth Programme representative and Iswandy Ahmad from the Brunei Darussalam Aids Council.

All was not lost and the apparent disappointment was lifted when Hj Ahmad informed them that they would be able to continue the discussion in an informal setting during lunch with the ministers and deputy ministers.

The congress was organised by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports through the Department of Youth and Sports. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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