Nurturing young Penangites via youth centres

(From left) Abdullah Sani, Dr Gwee, Soon, Nurul Izzah, Dr Norlela and Chung opening the Penanti Youth Centre in Taman Guar Perahu near Bukit Mertajam.

THE Penang youth and sports committee together with Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) are aiming to set up 40 youth centres all over the state.

Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said a youth centre would be established in each state assembly constituency.

“Indeed, the dedication and enthusiasm shown by all parties involved prove that we are all concerned about the development of youths in Penang.

“The objective of creating a youth centre is to stimulate involvement in community programmes as well as provide an activity space for young people to interact and share creative ideas.

“Thanks to the cooperation between PYDC and the Penanti assemblyman’s service centre, a space in the Taman Guar Perahu multipurpose hall has now been turned into the Penanti Youth Centre, and with that the fourth youth centre has been established,” he said.The other three centres are in Penaga, Balik Pulau and Bertam.

Soon said PYDC and the Penanti service centre started preliminary work in January this year.

Tasks included cleaning, painting murals and providing facilities like chairs, tables, curtains, reading materials, computers and recreation corners.

“This centre is one of the initiatives of the Penang government for youths living in rural areas,” said Soon when opening the Penanti Youth Centre in Taman Guar Perahu near Bukit Mertajam.

Also present were Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Kapar MP Datuk Abdullah Sani Abdul Halim, Penanti assemblyman and exco member Dr Norlela Ariffin, PYDC general manager Dr Gwee Sai Ling, Penang Anti- Drug Agency director Elmariah Chung and state Agriculture Department director Mohd Muhaimin Ibrahim.

Soon said the state government through PYDC had taken various initiatives to organise programmes that benefit youths.

“We will continue to organise various activities in collaboration with all the youth centres that have been set up.

“Therefore, I would like to call on other assemblymen to work with PYDC to identify suitable places in their constituencies to be used as youth centres as soon as possible,” he said.