Brunei youth’s concerns heard at Apec forum

Legislative Council memberKhairunnisa Ash’ari and the Brunei delegation listen to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. - BRUNEI YOUTH COUNCIL

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN (Borneo Bulletin/Asia News Network): Four youth delegates represented Brunei Darussalam in the Apec Voices of the Future 2021 hosted by New Zealand from Oct 13 to Nov 10.

Legislative Council member and President of the Brunei Youth Council Khairunnisa Ash’ari led the Bruneian delegation comprising Muhammad Nasrullah Puzian from Politeknik Brunei, Lim Tze Liang from Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College, Nur Alyssa Madihah Sopian from Laksamana College of Business and Syairah Rafae’a from Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD).

Syairah introduced the delegation and gave a presentation on what matters the most to Bruneian youth on Oct 13.

Muhammad Nasrullah represented the delegation the following week to discuss and produce the youth declaration themed ‘A Greener Future’.

APEC Voices of the Future is an annual youth event that brings together young people from across the Apec region to discuss issues and have their voices heard.

The events involved various speakers sharing about the four focus areas – international cooperation to combat Covid-19; a future for all, a greener future; and a digital future.

Notable speakers included United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Envoy for Youth Jayathma Wickramanayake, Singapore Joint Minister of State for Trade and Industry (MTI) and Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) Alvin Tan, YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki and Al-Jazeera correspondent Wayne Hay.

The event ended with the formal handing over of the youth declaration to New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and with an interactive session with the leader.