PERAK YOUTH FRIENDSHIP TOUR TO KUNMING, YUNNAN

Upon receiving the good news from the Malaysia Consulate General, my immediate respond is to check on air fare. The generous Malaysia Consulate General agreed to arrange the lodging and transportation for us.

I e-mail to Thai Airways in Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia Airline [MAS] - Government and Student Transportation Department. Their respond is prompt. MAS offered RM900 on air-fare and Thai Airways offered RM600 (both ex-taxes). Thai Airways also assist us in the connecting flight from KLIA - Kunming via Bangkok and vice-visa. The transit time in Bangkok is short. We don't mind with the transit time as it save us about RM300 per person. Therefore I suggested to take the Thai Airways.

Arrangement has been made with the China Embassy in Kuala Lumpur for Visa application.

At the same time, I was told that the Consulate General, Tuan Roseli Abdul will be back to his hometown in Gopeng for holidays.

The Perak State Youth Council Chairman - Hang Tuah Din, Secretary - Hasnul, secretariat staff - Rozidi and myself met the Consulate General for lunch in Heritage Hotel on 3 July, 2009. We discuss on the activities and schedule dates. It is a fruitful discussion.

COMMUNITY SPORTS CARNIVAL

The Perak State Executive Councilor in charge of Cultural, Youth and Sports, Y.B. Zainol Padzil had a meeting with all the community sports clubs in Perak on 29 June, 2009. The meeting was held in Impiana Casuarina, Ipoh. Almost all the clubs attended the meeting.

The purpose of the meeting is to ensure that the 2009 Community Sports Carnival which should be held before fasting month. The Ministry of Youth and Sports had bank-in RM20,000 to each club to carry out the programme.

I attended the meeting as the Chairman of Jalong Community Sports Club [Kelab Sukan Komuniti Jalong] with secretary, Mohamad Syed Daud bin Syed Isa.

4 compulsory sports were selected this year i.e. football, volley ball, sepak takraw and netball. 2 optional sports are 3 x 3 basketball and women volley ball. These sports are play according to the current rules and regulations of the respective sports. There are not much changes from previous years only the prize money increase to RM1,000 (champion), RM700 (1st. runners up), RM500 and RM300 for third and fourth placing respectively.

Jalong Community Sports Club decided to hold the carnival on 1st and 2nd August. All the compulsory sports will be played. 3 x 3 basket ball, an optional sports will also be hold during the fasting as it is play majority by Chinese.

YOUTH ENTERPRISE

The 'Youth Enterprise" programme was held on 20.6.2009 in Forestry Department Training Centre [Pusat Latihan Perhutanan], Jalan Lintang, Sungai Siput by Sungai Siput District Youth and Sports Department. 112 youth participated. 12 'orang asli' youth, 40 Indian youth and 2 Chinese youth. The remainder are Malay youth.

Effort has been made to promote this programme to the Chinese youth via local Chinese dailies, word of mouth and banners in strategic locations. I was told that 12 Chinese youth registered but only 2 turns up.

The purpose of this program is to promote the Skim Tabung Ekonomi Belia (STEB) - Youth Economic Fund Scheme. This scheme is created specially for the youth to assists them become entrepreneur. 30% cash and 70% for purchasing related stock and items. Successful applicants has to repay the amount given plus certain percentage as administration fees on an agreed period.

Officers from Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, Ipoh [Malaysia Company Commission], Bank Rakyat and AgroBank were invited. Banks are invited because they are the appointed agents to managed the fund on behalf of Youth and Sports Ministry.

I heard the participants groaning as the terms and conditions by the banks are beyond their effort. This scheme suppose to help them, not to burden them!

Nevertheless, the previous successful applicants should be blamed as they do not repaid the amount given; therefore, the Ministry of Youth and Sports appointed the banks to managed the fund. Bank has it procedures to ensure that the fund is available and manageable.

PERAK STATE YOUTH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL

The Perak State government and Perak State Youth and Sports Department jointly organised the PERAK STATE YOUTH CONSULTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING today (28.5.2009) in Syuen Hotel, Ipoh.

The Menteri Besar of Perak state officiated the meeting; while the Perak State Executive Councillor in charge of youth and sports chaired the meeting. 10 government agencies relevant to youth were invited together with all the district consultative council chairmen in Perak. All the Perak State Youth council members and the chairman of the respective youth organisation were invited too.

I was appointed to the council since 2002. From my experience the standard and presentation were dropping from bad to worst. It seems that the department held the meeting for the sake of meeting.

Today only 2 papers were presented. Time for debate, discussion and clarification were limited. The sitting arrangement badly done. Notice to council members were issued late. Poor sound system.

I took part in the debate on the poor participation from the non-Malay youth to all youth programmes / activities organised by the youth and sports department or the district youth council. My perception on the query is simple as most of the Chinese youth are busy with their school / college activities. While working adult are tight-up with their respective job schedule and some with family commitment. Difference life-style between Malay and Chinese youth. Migration of rural youth to city due to further studies, job prospect and living.

Most of the 'penggerak Rakan Muda' are Malays and they do not approach the Chinese youth at the same time the Chinese youth and their leader are also not pro-active enough to approach the department officer. As they is no initiative by either side, there is no relationship.

I have play the role as the "bridge" between the youth and sports department with the Chinese youth since the day I was elected to Perak State Youth Council in 1996. I work within my limits. Most of the Chinese youth and their leaders are working within the Chinese community only. That's the main reason why programme organised and dominance by the Chinese; the respond are tremendous while programmes organised by the Malay do not receive respond from the Chinese youth.

The most critical factor is the poor command of Bahasa Malaysia by the Chinese youth. This is the main factor that distract them from joining the programme / activities where Malays are dominance. Difficulties in communication and interaction between Malays and Chinese.

Personally, I feel that one of the party [the youth and sports department officers, 'penggerak Rakan Muda' and the Chinese youth] should initiate the first step; if not the issues prolong. I will continue to play the "bridge" role till I am not wanted by the youth!

YOUTH WITHOUT ORGANIZATION

Group photo

Sungai Siput Youth and Sports Department has organized a youth camp for those youth whom they have not registered with any youth association yet or those who want to set-up new youth club. This camp was held in Pangkor Island on 22 - 24 May 2009. 40 youths from Sungai Siput participated consist of 10 'orang asli', 10 Indians and 20 Malays.

Officers' duties and functions are ..........

Multi-racial participants!

Group presentations - orang asli, malay and women

The participants were explained why they should participate in youth activities through various youth clubs. 4 new clubs were formed. They are guided step-by-step on setting up new club. I was invited to give a talk on the club's officers duties and functions.

Group discussion. Facilitators guiding the 'orang asli'

Relaxing games for all ......

This camp is important as the participants were exposed on how to set-up club, conduct meeting, filing annual returns, financial management and the functions of the committee.

Closing speech by En. Amer Izzuddin, the officer

Presenting certificates to participants & receiving gift from the organiser

The VIPs

PERAK YOUTH FRIENDSHIP TOUR - KUNMING, YUNNAN

Perak State Youth Council has decided to visit either Cheingmai, Thailand or Kunming, China. I was appointed the coordinator and organizer for the tour during the Perak State Youth Council EXCO meeting recently. My immediate action is e-mail to the Malaysia Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand and Malaysia Consulate General in Kunming.

I received immediate respond from the Malaysia Embassy in Bangkok. The Second Secretary of the Embassy would assist us, however, they have no contact with youth organizations in Cheingmai. I try to liaise with youth organizations in Cheingmai and Bangkok. The respond are good. A few youth clubs in Cheingmai responded. The Cheingmai Youth Hostel agreed to assist us in transportation and lodging. Few youth organizations has no problem to accept us but they could not arrange other activities with other youth organizations.

The respond from Malaysia Consulate General office came a few weeks later. This may due to the official visit by the Prime Minister of Malaysia to Beijing during this period. The Consulate General office agreed to made arrangement on our behalf with the youth organizations in Kunming, Yunnan.

I am very much appreciate the commitment and generosity of the Consulate General, Tuan Roseli Abdul.

The Yunnan Youth Federation and Kunming Youth Union agreed to accept us as their guest.

LEADERSHIP CONCEPT

Group photo

I was invited to share my experience with the youth leaders recently. This is a leadership camp organised by Sungai Siput Youth and Sports Department. It was held in Chalet Sri Tasek, Pangkalan Hulu on 17 - 19 April, 2009. 43 youth leaders from Sungai Siput participated. It is part of the Youth and Sports Ministry programme to train more youth leaders.

This is my 10th experience sharing with the youth in Perak state. I am glad that I was given the chance to share my experience with them. I was given a chance to talk on LEADERSHIP CONCEPT.

My list of records are: 2001 in Batu Gajah - Youth Volunteers' Camp [VOLUNTEERISM], 2002 in Sg. Siput - Sungai Siput Youth Leaders Workshop [ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN ASSOCIATIONS], 2003 in Pulau Pangkor - Perak State Youth Leadership Workshop [FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT], 2004 in Pulau Langkawi - District Youth Leadership Workshop [YOUTH ORGANIZATIONS IN MALAYSIA], 2006 in Pulau Pangkor - District Youth Leadership Work Camp [MANAGING YOUTH ORGANISATIONS], 2007 in Sungai Siput - Program Jati Diri Kesukarelaan Nasional [MANAGING VOLUNTEERS], 2008 in Akademi Kepimpinan Belia Negara, Sri Iskandar - Program Jati Diri Kesukarelaan Nasional [MANAGING VOLUNTEER ORGANISATIONS] and [YOUTH VOLUNTEERISM].

I have presented 5 talks on MALAYSIA YOUTH MOVEMENTS in National Service Camp in 2004(UiTM Sri Iskandar, Perak - 2 series) and 2005 (Kem Terkuk, Sg. Siput - 3 series).

I am honoured to close the camp by virtue of my position as Sungai Siput Youth Council Deputy Chairman.

Closing speech

Presenting certificates to participants and accepting gift from the organizer.