JOHOR BARU – The Tunku Mahkota of Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim launched the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) and non-governmental organisation (NGO), Southern Volunteers, at Hutan Bandar here today.
Also present at the ceremony was his wife, Che Puan Khaleeda Bustamam, Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad, State Secretary Datuk Azmi Rohani, Johor Tourism, Youth and Sports Committee Chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi and Johor Baru mayor Datuk Adib Azhari Daud.
TMIYC, which is a platform for Johor Baru youth to carry out leisure and recreational activities, covers an area of 6.07ha with 11 facilities, including a canopy walk, youth centre, mountain bike trails, parkour park, Kiddo Ground, and Skatepro.
Speaking at the event, Hasni said the state government has always been committed to designing and implementing various programmes to empower Johorean youth.
He said the launch of the Johor Baru TMIYC today is the first step for the establishment of TMIYCs in other districts, and that the development of TMIYC was completed last July before being handed over to the Johor Baru City Council in stages from December 17.
“In Johor, there are more than 1.5 million people between the ages of 14 and 39. We will always champion, support and highlight the best talents among the youth in our state and Malaysia.
“The state government, in the Johor Budget 2021, has allocated RM57.3 million to implement various initiatives related to the Johor youth,” he said.
He added that his committee will create a Johor youth database with an allocation of RM500,000 through the Johor Digital Agenda.
The database, he said, will provide comprehensive information related to the state's youth to Johor policymakers.
On Southern Volunteers, Hasni said the NGO can be a catalyst for the formation of a culture of volunteerism in the state.
According to him, Southern Volunteers will be a massive grassroots-level movement, and will take on the responsibility of carrying out humanitarian missions to help the needy here and abroad. – Bernama, December 21, 2020
