Engage troubled youths in meaningful initiatives, organisations urged

Mohd Khairuddin (third from right) speaking to representatives from welfare homes after presenting RM5,000 to 31 organisations involved in social work.

THE Selangor government wants organisations engaged in social work to involve youths in their initiatives.

Selangor human capital development, sports and youth generation development committee chairman Mohd Khairuddin Othman said both parties should build a platform to get troubled and underprivileged youths involved in volunteer work.

“Our door is always open and I hope we can come to an understanding to involve our youths through state government programmes,” he said after presenting RM155,000 to 31 organisations engaged in welfare work and rehabilitation at Dewan Jubli Perak at the state secretariat in Shah Alam.

Last year, 29 homes received RM116,000 as a special contribution during the movement control order to tide them over due to lack of funds during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“If possible, we would like to help non-Muslim organisations by this year or early next year,” Khairuddin said.

Selangor Islamic Religious Council social development director Suhaimi Ismail thanked the state for the timely contribution.

Mohd Khairuddin hoped to organise a dialogue with operators of such facilities to hear their grievances as well as find a way to get them involved in state-organised activities.

“We don’t want these youths to just be there in the centres.”

He suggested that one way to prevent youths from getting involved in social ills was to involve them in several initiatives.

He cited programmes under Penggerak Belia Selangor as well as Team Selangor Volunteers Programme (Serve) that engage in humanitarian work.

“Maybe, if they can be involved with Serve, they can be part of a collective,” said Mohd Khairuddin.

Recognising the many challenges faced by homes and centres, he reaffirmed the state’s commitment to work with stakeholders to create a system where youths can be engaged meaningfully in community work.

“If together we can come up with a platform to help ex-convicts, whether it is job placement or training, perhaps potential employers will have the confidence to give them an opportunity,” he said.