The Youth and Sports Ministry is sharpening its focus on rural youth in Sabah and Sarawak, with plans for direct engagement and locally tailored programmes.

THE Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) is intensifying efforts to strengthen youth and sports development, particularly in rural areas of Sabah and Sarawak.

Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Bimol said the ministry is currently reviewing and refining a new framework for its programmes. This includes the “Jelajah Borneo” tour, formerly known as “Kembara Jumpa Orang Muda” (KJOM), with a stronger focus on engaging rural youth.

“I consistently stress that all initiatives implemented by the ministry must effectively reach their intended target groups,” he said at a press conference. He made the remarks after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.

Mordi said he would personally go to the ground under the Borneo Tour to engage directly with young people. The aim is to gain a better understanding of their aspirations and ensure their views are reflected in programme planning.

He said the implementation of youth and sports development initiatives will be based on data. Programmes will be tailored to the specific needs of local communities to ensure their effectiveness.

This approach enables programmes to be designed according to the unique requirements of each locality. It is in line with a “bottom-up” strategy.

“Last year, the ministry gave the Youth and Sports Department in the states the flexibility to design Rakan Muda programmes based on local contexts,” he said. This ensures each initiative is more relevant and delivers a meaningful impact on the target group.

Mordi emphasised that the tour serves not only as an engagement session. It is also a platform for youths to express their views, enhance their organisational skills and build stronger community networks.

 The Sun Malaysia