GIVING A TRY: Najib tries out a 1Malaysia For Youth helmet during a walkabout at the KLCC Esplanade. The 1M4U helmets will be distributed free to youths in the country soon. — Bernama photo
KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak yesterday announced several special incentives for youths in the country to underline the government’s continuous support and recognition of youths in the country.
A special fund called ‘Dana Sukarelawan 1Malaysia’ (DRe1M) will be set up with an allocation of RM100 million for the benefit of youth organisations, non-governmental organisations and youth groups who are not members any organisations, to carry out beneficial programmes.
“The fund is for youths to carry out voluntary activities like gotong-royong, cleaning up beaches etc. Even to organise tuition classes for Orang Asli, they can apply for the fund,” he told about 50,000 youths when launching 1Malaysia For Youth (1M4U) at the KLCC Esplanade here yesterday.
Najib said all applications would be processed online and for information and procedures on how to apply for the fund, information can obtained from the www.1m4youth.com.my website.
During the launch, Najib also announced the setting up of an 1M4U Board of Trustees which will be chaired by the Prime Minister himself, to ensure all programmes carried out under the 1M4U platform, progress smoothly.
“We need to support activities and programmes carried out by youths voluntarily through reasonable financial support and not provide funds for lavish spending,” he said.
Najib said an 1M4U Radio station would also be introduced to disseminate information and to provide programmes catered for young generation listeners and at the same time be a platform to unearth and expose talent and ideas of youths.
The Prime Minister also announced 2013 as Volunteerism Year to maintain and instill the spirit of contributing towards the community and the country.
He said the iM4U was a platform for the young generation to step forward and contribute their energy, ideas and time for the benefit of the community and country.
“We are gathered here because we love peace. We are gathered here to mobilise iM4U as a wave to surf peace, to be a platform for youths and the young generation to put forward their creativity, ideas and activities, not to riot or demonstrate,” he said.
Najib also cited Mohd Zariff Affandi, 31, as an example of a dedicated volunteer who was willing to offer his services and ideas to the community, though he does not have both his hands.
“I met Mohd Zariff. He does not have both hands but he was willing to become a volunteer and contribute his services to the country,” he said.
Najib said the acronym iM4U that was chosen means the government of the day is for youths and the government will do its best to ensure a bright future that will be light up their hopes and ensure success in their struggles for excellence and transformation programmes.
“The future is determined by you (youths). If the youths wished to defend the community, the welfare of the community will be defended. If the government’s efforts and transformation programmes are supported, the country will progress,” he said.
The Prime Minister also launched the composition of the iM4U song by the Lim Kok Wing University and later distributed 100,000 helmets to youths from throughout the country. — Bernama
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