KUCHING: Young people not only represent the future of the country but are one of society’s main agents of change and progress.
Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah stressed that the state government hence places strong emphasis on youth development.
“Positive youth development programmes strengthen young people’s sense of identity, belief in the future, self regulation, and self-efficacy as well as their social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural competence.
“These are essential to ensure that we build up good future leaders of our community, society and our nation,” he said at the finale of Kuching’s Got Talent 2022 here last night.
Abdul Karim, who is also Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister, therefore, commended MBKS’s spirit of wanting to harness the potential of the young for the benefit of the community by organising the talent development programme for Kuching residents.
“What MBKS is doing is on the right path,” he said.
He also said performing arts encourages youth to explore their emotions, expand their imagination and helps them develop their own unique character and cognitive skills.
“Each discipline of performing arts be it music, dance or other forms of expression engages one’s brain, body and emotions in different ways to encourage their confidence and find joy in creative self-expression.
“Having youth in our community and society who can express themselves creatively is immensely important for us to move forward as a developing nation,” he said.
The Kuching Got Talent this year, he said, is a good indication of the youth’s appreciation and interest in creative and performing arts.
“I hope that the interest and enthusiasm built up in our youth while they are in school and our higher educational institutions will be sustained as they grow up into working and adult life.
“With that, we must continue to cultivate this interest, and to provide opportunities for those with the talent and passion to excel in creative performing arts,” said Abdul Karim.
Also present were Abdul Karim’s wife Datin Seri Zuraini Abdul Jabbar, Tourism, Creative Industry; Performing Arts Ministry permanent secretary Hii Chang Kee; MBKS mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng and Kuching’s Got Talent Finale 2022 organising chairman Bong Lian Huan.
