Leaders Taken Up With Youths' Commitment
By Dewi Mohd Sofri

Bandar Seri Begawan - In their pursuit of more progressive involvement in the national development, five speakers in Brunei's first National Youth Congress put nerves aside and boldly declared their resolutions and action plans to some of the country's leaders.

Together they lobbied for more attention to be focused on the better ways to enhance their roles as the future leaders of the country.

Utilising the mass media (print and electronic) and organising roadshows were two of the ways that can be used to attract and create awareness on youth issues such as drug abuse.

Dato Seri Paduka Hj Eusoff Agaki Hj Ismail, deputy minister at the Prime Minister's Office lauded their suggestions. He said: "We take this as a commitment that youth will take proper steps to explore areas and not just through NGOs but also to be independent," and urged youths to "create space not just wait for things to happen. Be proactive".

Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Dewa Major General (Rtd) Dato Seri Pahlawan Hj Mohammad Hj Daud said regarding the suggestion on National Service: "In discussions it has been approved and insyaallah if we are ready we can do it as soon as possible."

Budget issues in support of the youth movement was also brought up.

According to Pehin Dato Hj Mohammad a total of $930,000 have been allocated to youth development programmes while an- other $700,000 in assistance to the youth development centre and $500,000 for student allowances - those participating in courses conducted at the centre. At the same time $50,000 have been channelled to youth activities in each district.

To tackle unemployment issues, the government needs to provide a wider range of job opportunities in the industry sector and also introduce a financial scheme. Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah Hj Abdul Wahab, deputy minister at the Industry, Primary and Resources said that opportunities for businesses are abundant such as that on industry, aquaculture, Heart of Borneo and also tourism.

Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah added that MIPR has two such schemes that provides micro-credit financing with collateral which has been said to discourage people.

"The $30,000 scheme has been reviewed and the payment period is extended and there is no need for a plan," he said. He also said that the scheme for providing a credit of $1.5 million has been increased to $5 million.

The youths also voiced out the need for a school for entrepreneurs to be established to groom potential business leaders.

Pehin Dato Hj Mohammad said that a MoU has been signed between Brunei Economic Development Board and a private company "to establish an entrepreneurship course at the Youth Development Centre and this will be conducted soon".

He added that a grant will be given to provide capital in small scale to help students interested to become entrepreneurs.  -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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