Kinabatangan, Lamag Youths Counting On More Job Opportunities, Sports Facilities

By Abdul Rahman Fahmi Abdul Aziz

KINABATANGAN, Jan 15 (Bernama) -- Youths in the Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency hope that the candidate who is elected will pay particular attention to youth development, including providing better sports facilities and creating more job opportunities to spur the local economy.

A  youth representative, 20-year-old Muhamad Firdaus Robin, said sufficient sports facilities are not only crucial to encouraging a healthy lifestyle, but also play a role in fostering good behaviour and preventing youths from social ills.

"This measure is important so that youth do not fall by the wayside and can play a more active role in community development, especially through involvement in sports and entrepreneurship activities that can help generate the local economy,” he told Bernama recently.

Muhamad Firdaus, who will cast his ballot at Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Bukit Garam II, said the issue of unemployment among youth in the area is also at a critical stage, with job opportunities limited to and focused on the Kota Kinabatangan town.

"Many are still jobless, and some even dare to venture far to places like Kota Kinabalu and Lahad Datu, and I feel sad as we have to be separated… even to meet up is difficult. My friends have all gone far away to look for jobs,” said Muhamad Firdaus, who works as a barista at a cafe here.

Nurasyarah Aiin Judy@Janudin, 28, said the development of business premises and tourist attractions is very much needed as they have the potential to serve as catalysts for boosting the local economy.

"I propose that more development and infrastructure be carried out to pave the way for job opportunities for youths here.

"Job opportunities are currently limited, leaving many to venture far away to eke out a living,” said Nursyarah, who currently relies on an online business for her source of income to provide for her family.

Meanwhile, 23-year-old Norsakilah Kassim, who is a voter in the Lamag state constituency, hopes that more serious attention is paid to the lack of sports facilities for youths in the area, which she described as lagging behind and not in line with their needs.

"Those in my age group, we need to be active in sports. But we lack places for sports activities, like halls… most of the facilities we have are for badminton. As for other sports, like volleyball, they are still lacking,” said Norsakilah, who works at an eatery here.

The Kinabatangan parliamentary and Lamag state by-elections are being held following the death of the incumbent, Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, 66, on Dec 5 last year.

Kinabatangan features a three-cornered contest involving Mohd Kurniawan Naim Moktar of Barisan Nasional (BN), Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman (Warisan) and Goldam Hamid (Independent), while Lamag sees a straight fight between Mohd Ismail Ayob (BN) and Mazliwati Abdul Malek (Warisan).

The Kinabatangan parliamentary constituency has 48,722 registered voters, with 57.17 per cent or 27,841 of them aged between 18 and 39.

The Election Commission has set polling for both by-elections for Jan 24, with early voting on Jan 20.

-- BERNAMA