KUCHING: Youth organisation Saberkas will continue to strengthen its collaboration with the Malaysian Youth Council (MBM) to enhance youth development across Malaysia, particularly in Sarawak.
Saberkas president, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah,said the close ties between Saberkas and MBM underscored their shared commitment to fostering relationships, addressing youth-related issues, and exploring opportunities for collaboration.
“We maintain close contact with MBM, the largest youth organisation in Malaysia, to strengthen relationships and discuss youth issues.
“This collaboration benefits youths not only in Peninsular Malaysia but also in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during a courtesy call by MBM representatives here Tuesday (Jan7).
Highlighting the importance of these engagements, Abdul Karim said such initiatives are crucial for nurturing future leaders at the state and national levels.
“This is not the first time MBM has visited us. They often join our events such as Sarawak Youth Day and Saberkas’ general meetings. We hope this relationship will continue to grow stronger in the years to come.”he said.
MBM president, Mohd Izzat Afifi Abd Hamid, echoed Abdul Karim’ sentiments, affirming the longstanding partnership between MBM and Saberkas.
“Saberkas has been an affiliated body of MBM since its inception. Our relationship has always been close, and this year we aim to further solidify it,” he said.
One of the key initiatives planned for 2025 is the Reach Out programme, which was launched last year in Daro and Kedup. The programme engages youths in remote areas through cultural exchanges, community sports and dialogues.
“This year, we hope to expand the programme to at least five areas in Sarawak, focusing on regions with diverse ethnic groups. Last year, we connected with the Melanau and Bidayuh communities. This year, we aim to reach other indigenous groups in more remote locations to foster better understanding and integration,” Izzat explained.
The Reach Out program is designed to be intimate, involving 100-200 participants per session.
“This format allows us to build closer connections between MBM representatives and Sarawak youths,” Izzat noted.
He added that the focus is on organising multiple smaller events across various locations rather than a single large-scale event.
In addition to cultural and sports activities, the programme will include dialogues and community engagement initiatives tailored to the needs of each region.
“We rely on input from Saberkas branches to craft meaningful activities that resonate with the local communities,” he said.
On the possibility of organising similar programmes in Peninsular Malaysia, Abdul Karim revealed that Saberkas is open to the idea.
“We have our own agendas in Sarawak and beyond. Previously, we organised a programme in Johor. We are also engaging with youth organisations in the Nusantara region and Southeast Asia. From there, we might expand our initiatives to a larger scale,” he said.
