| Azlan Othman |
HIS Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam urged youths to be active, not passive.
“Don’t just know how to count your days,” His Majesty said delivering his titah at the 12th National Youth Day celebration at the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Berakas yesterday, adding, “We want youths who are lively and fill their times or days with welfare activities and not let them be empty or pass by just like that.
“Using your time wisely is crucial… youths now fill their time with too much fun. If we let our youths have too much leisure, then this is very bad for the future.
“The country may face a problem of lack of competitiveness to face various challenges,” His Majesty said.
“Producing quality youths is no doubt an investment. It requires the commitment of all parties and implemented through a strategic planning, which starts with awareness among the youths.”
“Awareness makes the youths more mature and patriotic. Awareness here means that the youths become religiously inclined, and possess familyhood with community and national characters. All these awareness are very important for our youths, without differentiating their status and rank.
“This is the pillar of perfection for youths. We need to be concerned, just in case our youths do not have any of this awareness. But if this is really happening, then the negative impact would hit the society and country,” His Majesty added.
“And we are concerned when we hear and read that elsewhere, there are school students bullying their friends and involving in other crimes… some resulting in deaths. This is really worrying. We can just imagine… if a young student could commit such a serious crime, what then will he or she becomes upon reaching adulthood.
“Hence, such incidents should add more responsibilities to leaders, parents and teachers to ensure that they will not happen in Brunei Darussalam,” His Majesty said.
“Our responsibility is not just to build buildings or the nation. The most challenging task is to build a human being. Hence, we build schools, family institutions and leaders who can spread the teachings of Islam.
“All parties should take integrated steps in building a nation, in particular building teenagers and youths. When this responsibility is perfectly implemented, there is a window of hope for us,” added His Majesty.
Earlier, His Majesty said, “Our youthful days are beautiful and sweet. Whoever had gone through a favourable youthful period, such person is fortunate because it is during this stage that an individual experiences very crucial formative years or growth.
“The growth here is in terms of ‘Syakhsiah’ or personality, ability and knowledge. A youth who has a normal and healthy growth is fortunate; more so, if such a youth is filled with the perfect content in terms of personality, education and ability. This kind of youth, without a doubt, is the youth of quality.”
His Majesty added, “A youth of quality, besides being measured by content, is also determined by his or her attitude. A youth who is inclined to seek advancement is a sign of a talented person, who is usually very active and creative. Is this not a reference to quality?
“This is the kind of youth that the nation wants,” His Majesty said.
Also present at the gathering were His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah, the Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office; His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Sufri Bolkiah; His Royal Highness Prince Haji Jefri Bolkiah; and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof as the chairperson of the Executive Committee of the 12th National Youth Day celebration in his welcoming remarks said the theme for the celebration which reads ‘Belia Berdaya Usaha dan Berinovasi Menjayakan Wawasan Negara’ (Entrepreneurial and Innovative Youth Accomplishing Nation’s Vision) is chosen to spread to the youths the importance of being educated, highly skillful and successful.
All these would contribute to the nation having quality people and a dynamic economy as aspired in Vision 2035, he said.
The minister added that youths should migrate rapidly into core fields and become more sophisticated for the sake of sustainable prosperity.
His Majesty later presented four national youth awards – the ‘Excellent Youth Award’ which went to Nurliyana Fatin binti Arifin, the ‘Youth Service Award’ won by Haji Muhammad Iqbal Fakhri bin Haji Damit, the ‘Young Youth Leader Award’ presented to Mohammad Aidil Firdaus bin Haji Jukin from Insan Development Association (KESAN) and the ‘Excellent Project for Youth Award’ given to www.alhuffaz.com (platform for learning Al-Quran).
Each received a trophy, a Brunei woven brocade or ‘Kain Tenunan’, a certificate of appreciation and $3,000. His Majesty also mingled with youths and viewed an exhibition.
The post His Majesty urges youths to be active appeared first on Borneo Bulletin Online.