YOUTHS are the leaders of tomorrow, as the saying goes.
As such, it cannot be overstated that empowering and developing youths as leaders will play a big part in determining a country’s future.
For this, the Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) has been been the driving force behind the development of youth in the state.
The state agency, under the guidance of its general manager Dr Gwee Sai Ling, has been actively organising numerous programmes and activities to unearth talents, develop their potential as well as provide a platform for young people to speak out.
It comes under the purview of state executive councillor Soon Lip Chee, who holds the state Youth and Sports portfolio.
At the state-level Merdeka Day parade at the Esplanade in August, PYDC, for the first time, sent representatives to take part in Rukun Negara pledge-reading, a choir team and a group of drummers to perform.
According to PYDC assistant general manager Ng Hooi Ting, PYDC currently has a big pool of 2,500 volunteers ranging from 15 to 35 years old.
She said since most of the volunteers are students who are busy with their school work, they are welcome to volunteer in any activity during their free time.
“While PYDC aims to develop young people holistically and help them achieve their full potential, it also advocates the importance of unity in diversity.
“Even before forming the Penang Youth Choir team, PYDC planned to take in 20 Indians, 20 Malays and 20 Chinese for a 60-member ensemble. But due to an overwhelming response, the choir now has 85 members,” Ng told Buletin Mutiara in a recent interview.
PYDC’s Rukun Negara pledge-reading team, comprising seven members, also reflected a mixed composition of two Malays, two Chinese, two Indians and one Sikh.
Buletin Mutiara recently had the opportunity to meet them to know more about why they join the PYDC family and their dreams.
The pledge-reading team was led by the state’s Commonwealth Games judo bronze medalist Amir Daniel Abdul Majeed, 18. The others were Hong Jia Herh, 34, Khor Kai Shin, 23; Muhammad Nurhakim, 22; Molika Mehdy, 19; Preethi Kaur, 19; and Dhurgesswaran Veeran, 22.
Amir, who was interviewed over Zoom as he was unable to meet face to face due to a recent judo competition in Bangkok, said he got to know PYDC after being invited to take part in the shooting of a short film last year.
Asked how he felt during the Rukun Negara pledge-reading ceremony, Amir said: “Of course, I was nervous in the presence of so many distinguished people, including the Penang governor and the Chief Minister. But I am honoured . It was a new experience for me.
“Due to my school work and judo training, I do not have much time to take part in PYDC activities. But I would like to encourage other youths through social media to contact platforms like PYDC for their development,” said Amir, who won a gold medal in the judo competition at the 20th Sukma in Kuala Lumpur last month.
Molika, who is taking up a diploma course in management at MSU College in Penang, said she was proud to be a member of the team.
“I appreciate the opportunity and hope to do it again next year.
“I became a PYDC volunteer after learning about the platform from a friend. I love to sing and I grabbed the chance to take part in the Open Mic competition organised by PYDC under its Youth with Rhythm initiative.
“I also remember singing in front of Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow during the Majlis Sambutan Hari Raya Adilfitri Bagan Jermail and Majlis Hari Raya Pinang Tunggal.
“I was a shy girl before but after joining the PYDC activities, I overcame my fear and became brave. Now, I won’t waste any opportunity. I want to expose myself and grow in confidence.
“Also, I will volunteer to help others. By making others happy, I will feel happy myself,” Molika said.
Kai Shin, a law student at Brickfields Asia College in Kuala Lumpur, said she became involved with PYDC activities after winning a column writing competition organised by PYDC last year.
She said it was a rare opportunity to stand in front of Penang Governor Tun Ahmad Fuzi Abdul Razak and many other honourable guests to read the Rukun Negara pledge.
A very active volunteer, Kai Shin received a certificate of appreciation from Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow in May for her contribution of over 10 hours of voluntary work.
She is also the vice-president of Majlis Belia Pulau Pinang (Penang Youth Council) and secretary of Pertubuhan Gerakan Belia Bersatu Malaysia Pulau Pinang (GBBM).
“All these NGOs and PYDC give me the chance to give something to society. We organise events like beach cleaning and colouring contests for kids.
“I learned a lot as a volunteer at YB Lee Khai Loon’s office during the Covid-19 pandemic, sometimes making more than 100 calls per day to the victims. Through liaising with Jabatan Kesihatan (Health Department), I also got to know more details about its operation.
“Then, for three months, I was involved with other volunteers at the Batu Lancang constituency which has quite a number of high-rises. We went from door to door to find out whether any residents need food aid and we will help deliver it to them.
“It was overall an unforgettable experience during the pandemic,” Kai Shin said.
For Muhammad Nurhakim, a manufacturing technology student at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM), he was glad to join PYDC when it was recruiting volunteers for flood relief work in Pahang.
PYDC sent two teams to help out, the first team was led by Soon and the second was led by Ng.
“I wanted to help the flood victims in Pahang but I did not know how to go about it. So, when I got to know that PYDC was going to send a team there, I jumped at the opportunity.
“The two days one night disaster relief experience was useful and meaningful to me.
“After that, I also volunteered at the recent WCIT (World Congress on Information Technology) in Penang.
“One more thing is that joining PYDC also gives me the chance to improve my English and self-confidence,” Muhammad Nurhakim said.
Dhugesswaran, better known as Waran to his friends, said he was overjoyed when he got a call to join the Rukun Negara pledge-reading team.
Even though the sun was beating down on his face, Waran said it was an enjoyable experience.
“I got to know about PYDC through the Sidang Muda (a mock state assembly for the youths). I was first picked to be an Opposition Leader and then became a Chief Minister. That was a great opportunity for me to change myself, both times leading different people with different mindsets,” said Waran, a third-year law student at Universiti Malaya.
Last month, Waran was the director of the Jit Sin Alumni Inter-varsity. For a month-long period, various events were carried out to benefit the Jit Sin students, like workshops, talks by experts and a youth empowerment summit.
For Jia Herh, 34, he said he was very happy to be one of the representatives for the ‘ikrar’ (pledge).
He, too, had participated in Sidang Muda, in which he played the role of the state executive councillor in charge of agrotech and food security, rural development and health.
A chemical engineering graduate from Universiti Sains Malaysia, he is a client manager by profession. He provides consultation to factories on productivity.
“I like to interact with youth. I used to participate in the events and now is the time for me to contribute something back to the youth.
“Sometimes, PYDC will engage me to be the trainer or speaker at some of its workshops,” said Jia Herh, who occasionally helps Berapit assemblyman Heng Lee Lee’s office to organise events.
For Preethi, the pledge reading of Rukun Negara was her first activity with PYDC. She was introduced by her temple, the Penang Wadda Gurdwara Sahib in Jalan Gurdwara, to PYDC which was looking for a Sikh representative.
“I have heard about PYDC before. I was fortunately having my semester break and could therefore take part in the event when told about it.
“It was a whole new experience, especially to see people from all walks of life coming together to celebrate the occasion.
“I will try to get involved with PYDC activities whenever I am free,” said Preethi, a dentistry student at AIMST University.
The camaraderie, respect, exuberance and spirit of volunteerism shown by these seven youths for one another are the essence of living harmoniously in a multi-racial, multi-lingual and multi-religious society.
And that is the spirit of Rukun Negara.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis and courtesy of PYDC