Malaysian government revives youth programme
The Ministry of Sport and Youth brings back Rakan Muda, a programme for those aged 15 to 30. Set up in 1994, it fell out of favour for a while. Its goal is to promote leadership skills, contact with nature and physical education. Other ministries and private sector are also involved.
Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews) – The Malaysian Ministry of Sport and Youth Policy is reviving the Rakan Muda (Young Friend), a programme for young people aged 5 to 30, by providing them opportunities for growth and leadership training.
Last May, The Star reported that Youth and Sport Minister Hannah Yeoh made the announcement at a meeting of the Concorde Club, an informal group of Malaysian journalists. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Sports Minister Yeoh presented the revived initiative on 25 June.
The initiative seeks to bring together young people under the wing of government bodies, which will provide them with skills and useful information.
Rakan Muda was first launched in 1994 by then-Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad as part of “Wawasan[*] 2020", a plan to provide young people with leadership training, as well as outdoor activities and physical education, among other things.
In its new form, it will see the Ministry of Sport work closely with the Ministry of Higher Education, to ensure that the various projects come under the same banner.
The new Rakan Muda will also include seminars on democracy and government, an especially important issue considering that Malaysia recently lowered the voting age to 18.
The programme focuses on the development of nine lifestyles, providing educational opportunities and meeting the demands of participants. The lineup also includes Rakan Litar, which encourages young people's interest in motorsport.
Rakan Muda’s official website features the names of its sponsors and strategic partners, as well as instructions on how to use its logo.
National Negaraku[†] Brigade president Khairul Nizam Mohd Sopery calls on employers to join the programme since it is open to young workers as well as students, and is aimed at promoting good values and the country’s future.
The website of the Prime Minister’s Office notes that Rakan Muda is in line with government policies, inspired by a desire to contribute to “a generation that applies human values by respecting one another, embraces and advocates kindness, brotherhood, technology, and hates corruption, hypocrisy and racism.”
The prime minister has pledged support for the programme to train a new generation "that unites the country rather than divide it", as their elders are trying to do.
Reviving and promoting Rakan Muda are clearly a move by the current government to gain youth support against its political rivals, but it is also a response to the country's deep need for unity.
[*] Vision
[†] My country
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22/03/2024 16:27
25/02/2023 15:55
