KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan Sarawak Youth has been formed consisting members of DAP Socialist Youth ( DAPSY), Angkatan Muda Keadilan (AMK) and Amanah Sarawak Youth.
Announcing the formation at a joint press conference at PKR headquarters, Third Mile Bazaar here Tuesday, DAPSY representative Dr. Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen said the initiative’s major aim is to provide a stronger platform for greater participation of youths in politics and nation building as well as further promote the role of young people to be a greater influence and driving force in the politics of Sarawak and Malaysia.
“We believe in the potential of young people and although people tend to say that youth are the leaders of tomorrow, we strongly believe that they are the leaders of today and have a huge part to play in the direction of our country,” he said at the joint press conference which was also attended by Simon Siah, AMK representative, Mohamad Fadillah bin Sabali, AMANAH Youth representative; Saifunnizam Sam, Angkatan Muda Keadilan Sarawak (Information chief) and Chua Kuan Ching, AMK vice chief.
“For far too long we have been made mere spectators and even pawns in the world of politics. Thus, we strongly believe that it is important for us to empower ourselves and also others to take up greater role in the determining the direction of our country, “ said Dr. Kelvin.
“The voice of the youth shall not just be heard, but also a guiding influence in the formation of policies that will affect them and their families as well as affect the direction of the country,” he added.
With that belief, Dr Kelvin said, together they had together proposed their Manifesto Anak Muda Sarawak (MAMS) which involves five demands and proposals on matters that affect the direction of the country.
The five demands and proposals are Free Tertiary Education/Education Autonomy; More Affordable Housing; Increasing job opportunities for the youth; Increase the minimum wage for Sabah & Sarawak to be on par with Semenanjung Malaysia; and Reform of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Solidarity.
According to Mohamad Fadillah, they are proposal free tertiary education in IPTA and the abolishment of UUCA so students have no limitation to their rights for full political expressions.
Simon Siah said in order to have affordable housing the government must have council housing schemes in strategic locations in all major towns and with rent controls.
Dr. Kelvin said they were proposing for job opportunities for the youths. He said unemployment rate among youths are increasing
and they are proposing that preparatory training and courses for the young people especially in English language and soft skills, critical thinking as well as reviewing the reviewing the starting pay for graduate which had not been and reviewed and increased since 2007.
He said they also proposed to increase the minimum wage for Sabah and Sabah to be at par with Semenanjung Malaysia and to amend the minimum Wages Order 2016 to RM1,000/RM4.81 per house.
According to Saifunnizan, in the 5th Manifesto, they are proposing that the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Solidarity be reformed and the Minister must be under 45 years. He said they also proposed better facilities for sports developments in the state.
According to Dr. Kelvin, the Manifesto will be submitted to the leadership of Pakatan Harapan Sarawak in view of the drafting of a common manifesto for the upcoming GE14.
“On top of that, we will also be mobilising together in preparations for the upcoming GE14,” he said.
