KOTA SAMARAHAN: Young Sarawakians must be given greater trust and opportunities to lead, innovate and contribute to the development of the State, said Minister for Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
He said youth development would have a greater impact when young people were empowered to take an active role in shaping their communities, rather than being treated merely as beneficiaries of government programmes.
“Many of these programmes are led by youth, for youth. This ‘youth-led, youth-driven and community-powered’ approach empowers young people to participate, lead and contribute as facilitators, entrepreneurs, industry practitioners and volunteers.
“I believe youth development is most impactful when young people are given the trust and opportunity to drive positive change in their communities,” he said.
Abdul Karim said this in his welcoming speech at the Sarawak Youth Week 2026 celebration here today, which was officiated by Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the annual event is more than a celebration, serving instead as a platform to strengthen networks, build confidence and create opportunities for young Sarawakians to develop their potential and contribute as partners in the State’s development.
He said this year’s theme, ‘Belia Aspirasi Kita’, reflected the Sarawak Government’s continued commitment to ensuring youth aspirations remained an integral part of the State’s development agenda.
“We believe youth are not merely the inheritors of the future, but strategic partners of the government in shaping Sarawak’s future today.
“The ideas, energy, creativity and passion of our youth are among Sarawak’s greatest assets. They are the driving force behind our efforts to build a progressive, innovative and globally competitive Sarawak,” he said.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak Youth Week 2026 had been designed to provide young people with opportunities to explore their potential, acquire new skills, broaden their horizons, and prepare for future opportunities and challenges.
Among the programmes are Youth Champion, Youth Expo, Youth X-Tive and Youth Marketplace, which focus on leadership development, employability, entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation and community participation.
He said Youth Expo also exposed participants to career opportunities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathways, while other activities included Youth Combat, basic Emergency Response training, sports, volunteer activities and hands-on creative workshops.
These included perfume-making, painting, dance, sape classes and various other activities designed to provide direct learning experiences.
Abdul Karim said the programmes were made possible through collaboration involving government ministries and agencies, youth organisations, non-governmental organisations, educational institutions, industry players and the local community.
“Development of youth is a shared responsibility that requires commitment from the entire community ecosystem,” he said.
He added that the collaborative approach had also contributed to this year’s achievement of a Malaysia Book of Records recognition after Sarawak youths successfully organised the largest preloved community gathering.
The achievement, he said, demonstrated that young people could achieve meaningful milestones when provided with space, trust and support.
Meanwhile, Abdul Karim said the Sarawak Youth Awards 2026 would recognise individuals and organisations as Sarawak Youth Icons for their excellence in leadership, volunteerism, community development, innovation and service.
He said the awards are not merely a celebration of achievement but also represented the Sarawak Government’s highest recognition for youth and organisations that had made positive contributions to society.
He stressed that government efforts alone were insufficient to develop resilient, highly skilled and ethical young people, with continued cooperation from youth organisations, the private sector, educational institutions, communities and society as a whole being essential.
“With this spirit of collaboration, we are confident that we can build a younger generation of Sarawakians who are more resilient, highly skilled, possess integrity and are ready to lead the State in the future,” he said.
