KUCHING: Youth organisations must prove their value by developing new leaders, not merely building large memberships.
Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said they should serve as platforms for young people to learn leadership, discipline, teamwork and community service.
“A good organisation is not only measured by how many members it has.
“Instead, we need to look at how many new leaders it has successfully produced,” he said when officiating at the National Youth Consultative Council Sarawak-level meeting at Pustaka Negeri Sarawak here today.
Abdul Karim said experienced leaders should make room for the next generation while passing down their knowledge and experience to prevent a leadership vacuum.
He said youths should be entrusted with responsibilities now by involving them in decision-making and allowing them to propose ideas, resolve problems, manage programmes and lead organisations.
Sarawak, he added, needed capable successors to sustain its development, expand the economy and create more quality employment opportunities.
He also stressed that young leaders must be nurtured to respect Sarawak’s 34 ethnic groups and uphold the tolerance needed to preserve the state’s unity.
“When they make mistakes, guide them because we should not look only for leaders who are already perfect as leadership is shaped through experience.”
