KUCHING, Dec 12: Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) candidate for N12 Kota Sentosa, Wilfred Yap Yau Sin, says that youth empowerment will be a centrepiece of his mission.
“We take cognisance of the fact that the youth is the future and in order for us to have a bright future, the youth must be given every opportunity to delve in the various sectors that interest them,” he said in a statement today.
Yap opined that digitalisation has very much changed people’s lives, for instance, taxis are almost a thing of the past with e-hailing becoming the ‘go-to’ application.
He said his focus on the digital age is consequential on the fact that the world is moving in this direction and he wants the youth to be competitive and relevant when it’s their time to earn a living.
“In the past, we advised our children not to play games on the computer too much but now computer gaming is a multimillion dollar industry with young people able to earn a living in professional level competitions.
“We endeavour to provide a stepping stone for all in Kota Sentosa who wish to pursue this vocation by organising e-sports events so that our people can hone their skills here before stepping onto bigger stages like the Malaysian Games (Sukma) and one day, even the Olympics.
“E-sports is a valid vocation now but never was before and it doesn’t end there, we have also seen young people developing apps who don’t have a platform to showcase their creations and we hope to provide these young people with exposure through the Sarawak Multimedia Authority (SMA) so that their apps can be showcased to the world,” he said.
He also highlighted Sarawak Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has been advocating for digital transformation and the digital economy.
“Therefore, we share these aspirations with our leadership as such our presence within his team will allow for a symbiotic relationship where our goals align.
“With this kind of synchronised thinking our mission to bring Kota Sentosa and the youth in it into the digital age will be seamless,” he added.
He emphasised that youth development does not mean lectures and sermons on a hill talking down to the young people but instead, listening to the aspirations of the youth and finding the door that needs to be broken down in order to release their potential.
“Wilfred Yap will break that door down for you,” he said. — DayakDaily
