BINTULU: The growing challenges faced by Sarawak’s youth, from social media pressures to drug abuse and other social ills, highlight the need for stronger integrity, guidance, and resilience among the younger generation.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, emphasised the importance of nurturing values and moral strength to help young people stay on the right path.
He said issues such as bullying, vaping, cybercrime, and online scams continue to affect youths, requiring collective attention from families, communities, and leaders.
“We cannot deny that our youths today face many challenges. Recently, we have heard of cases involving bullying, substance abuse, and other social problems,” he said at the Sarawak Youth Week 2025 held at Bintulu Civic Centre today.
Abdul Karim also raised concerns over the negative influence of social media, noting that while there have been proposals to restrict its use among those under 16, he believes guidance and education are more effective solutions.
“Those involved in the media and digital industries must help ensure harmful content is controlled. Our youths must be guided, not isolated,” he said.
He revealed that between January and March 2025, Sarawak recorded 6,151 individuals involved in drug abuse and addiction, describing the figure as alarming and likely “only the tip of the iceberg”.
“Not everyone who uses or is addicted to drugs gets caught. Many are still out there, and this should concern us all – parents, community leaders, and elected representatives alike,” he added.
Abdul Karim urged youths not to be easily influenced by drugs, warning that addiction could destroy them physically, mentally, and morally.
“The true strength of our youth does not lie only in energy, but in values and integrity. We must have the strength to keep ourselves from falling into these problems,” he said.
He also reminded young people to reflect on their actions and avoid choices that could lead to criminal consequences.
“Once someone is charged and sentenced in court, it becomes difficult to return to the right path. Before we reach that stage, we must think deeply about whether our actions are right or wrong,” he said.
