| Izah Azahari |
MALAM Minggu Pusat Belia (MMPB) was officially launched at the Youth Centre in Bandar Seri Begawan last Saturday evening.
The guest of honour was Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Awang Haji Aminuddin Ihsan bin Pehin Orang Kaya Saiful Mulok Dato Seri Paduka Haji Abidin.
In her welcoming speech, the event chairperson Hajah Monasalieana @ Suzie binti Haji Mohd Salleh said it has become commonplace to hear complaints about the lack of determination and focus in the local creative industry.
“Instead of complaining and being negative, why don’t we implement and put the industry into practice, so that it can become a reality; to see how much success will be gained from it?” she said.
As an event scheduled for the first week of every month, MMPB was devised as a vehicle for fresh talents, apart from allowing local youth to evolve and showcase their works openly.
“The world of the creative industry is very interesting and wide-ranging,” said Hajah Monasaliena.
“The creativity that an individual acquires, which then develops into a hobby as a means of expression, can often result in a vocation, as well as a career in successful entrepreneurship, which will indirectly bring about the ‘Youth Entrepreneurship Eco-System’ platform that was emphasised by 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 during the 13th National Youth Day on August 1, 2018.
“The time has come to achieve this platform, especially in view of His Majesty’s titah, which pushed for youth to acquire more effort and creativity in self-empowering themselves to generate their own livelihoods, as those will not automatically come to them without putting in any effort.
“All the plans and initiatives have been implemented, and if it is fully utilised, this event will be able to attract foreign tourists, providing job opportunities that can at least provide some source of revenue.”
The event then continued with a speech by the guest of honour, which was followed by a Gulingtangan performance to signal the official launching of the MMPB.
The rest of the evening featured singing and dancing performances by talented youth from the Amux Motion Company and the Talent Auditions Creative Content Group; a theatrical play titled Takdir, by Sutera Memento; and sales booth activities on the sidelines of the event.
The MMPB project is a collaboration of youthful talent from various companies, non-governmental organisations and local youth associations under the Youth Centre and across the country, with the guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS).
Among the invited guests at the event were Legislative Council members, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, MCYS, government officers, youth association members and youth volunteers.