KOTA SAMARAHAN: Community-driven platforms must be expanded to strengthen social mobility among youths, ensuring they are equipped to navigate a technology-driven future.
Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development, Datuk Rubiah Wang, said equipping the younger generation with relevant skills and career guidance is crucial to align with the rapid evolution of science, technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).
She stressed the importance of providing youth with proper career and education support systems to prevent them from making uninformed choices based solely on peer or parental influence, without considering current industry demands.
“We need a platform that can strengthen social mobility in line with the changing world of science and technology.
“Information sharing through community programmes is essential to guide students in their decision-making. We do not want any children to be left behind or drop out of school,” she said at the closing ceremony of Karnival Tok Bok Nyo 3.0 at The Summer Shopping Mall today.
Rubiah, who is also the Kota Samarahan Member of Parliament, pointed out that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) has become a primary pathway for youths possessing specific talents to enter the job market.
Citing global economic reports, she noted that while 170 million new job opportunities are expected to emerge by 2030, an estimated 90 million traditional jobs will be lost.
“Therefore, we must be prepared and understand the demands of the national market. Process of sharing information, such as at this carnival, must be supported and held more frequently to help the community make decisions for their future,” she added.
Reflecting on Kota Samarahan’s 40th anniversary as a division, Rubiah highlighted the area’s massive transformation from an isolated rural district with a population of less than 10,000 to a bustling suburban hub of nearly 200,000 residents.
This demographic boom, she noted, has shifted the local economy from subsistence farming to a thriving small and medium enterprise (SME) and commercial sector.
However, she cautioned that the transition from a rural to a suburban area brings specific social challenges, including potential misconduct and vandalism.
She urged agencies like the National Anti-Drugs Agency (AADK) to continuously inject preventive and community development programmes to cultivate a resilient and successful society in Samarahan.
Also present were Kota Samarahan Municipal Council (MPKS) Chairman, Abang Ismawi Abang Ali; Samarahan’s Deputy Resident, Rais Ahmat; and MPKS’ Secretary, Zuraida Idris.
