Minister of Youth and Sports met some 1,500 university students and representatives from youth and sports associations in a town hall meeting in UMP

More than 1,500 undergraduates and representatives from youth and sports associations turned up at Astaka Hall in Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP) Gambang Campus for a town hall meeting with Minister of Youth and Sports Yang Berhormat Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman that was held on February 18, 2019.

The undergraduates were mainly from institutes of higher learning in Pahang such as Widad University College, Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah Islamic University College (KUIPSAS), Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Polytechnic (POLISAS), Pahang Skills Development Centre (PSDC), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM), University College of Yayasan Pahang (UCYP) and Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM).

Also present at the event were UMP Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir Ibrahim, National Sports Council Director General, Dato’ Ahmad Shapawi Ismail and Pahang Youth and Sports Director, Shansuhaimi Basir.

In his speech, Professor Dato’ Sri Dr. Daing Nasir welcomed the minister to share his aspiration and to listen to the voices of the young generation comprising the undergraduates, an event that was held for the first time in UMP.

“This meeting is also set to strengthen the leadership in student and youth as well as in the development of sports in the country. The approach taken by all parties in shaping the identity of youth is very important for they are the beneficiary of the future,” he said.

For this programme, Pahang Youth Council President, Wan Emril Nizam Wan Embong acted as the moderator.

Syed Saddiq spent more than two hours in explaining matters relating to government policies and answering questions posed by the audience.

Discussions also centred on views and suggestions on ways to address issues relating to sports development, youth leadership, unemployment and rising of living standards which had burdened the young generation.

Syed Saddiq also said that there were job opportunities in other countries for the young generation following a collaboration forged with the French government.

“Experience working abroad could be used when they returned home where they could help in the country’s development,” he added.