Youths’ ideas for Malaysia 2050 sought

KUALA LUMPUR: App design pitch competitions, Instagram photo curation and social media surveys are just some of the wide-ranging activities that will be rolled out to encourage the country’s youth to speak up on what they want Malaysia to be in 2050.

Youth and Sports Ministry secretary-general Datuk Lokman Hakim Ali (pic) said multiple approaches and media – either face-to-face or online – will be used to collect ideas and suggestions for the 2050 Na­­tional Transformation (TN50) project.

“These engagement sessions have been crafted to enable us to collect input from a broad range of channels and ensure that we actively encourage participation from the youth,” Lokman Hakim said.

Following the ‘TN50 Dialog Perda­na’ launch which the Prime Minister will kick off here tonight, more town hall meetings will be held regionally throughout the country.

Another key activity, he said, will be the discussion and networking groups known as the “TN50 Circle on the Future of Malaysia”.

They will be led by selected young Malaysians who are passionate and knowledgeable about specific topics relevant to TN50.

The “Circles” will convene regularly to refine their input into the TN50 plan, and subject matter experts will be engaged to act as advisers and mentors.

Lokman Hakim said his ministry will also gather input online via the “TN50 e-engagement” programme.

Feedback will be collected from the ministry’s online portals via surveys on a wide variety of topics related to the future of Malaysia.

The ministry will also introduce “myTN50”, a platform for people to express their stories and aspirations on Malaysia’s long-term future via multiple approaches and media.

These run the gamut of video or short-film submissions, essay-writing competitions, app design pitches, Instagram photo-curating and other activities.

Lokman Hakim said the focus will be to collect the views of the country’s youth but other groups are also welcome to participate and share their thoughts.

“The easiest way to participate is via our online portals, for example, our website, surveys and social media platforms.

“We welcome participation by interested rakyat in all activities.”

He said the ministry will also be working with other government agencies, corporate bodies and NGOs to garner input for TN50.