KUALA LUMPUR: Resolutions submitted at the Youth Kuala Lumpur (KL) Summit, a prelude to the KL Summit, will be presented to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
KL Summit advisory board member Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed said efforts would be focussed on ensuring that recommendations made by youth delegates would be implemented effectively and efficiently.
“It is important to learn from young people.
“Besides the substance you discussed in this forum, I’m sure there was a lot of learning and networking.
“I agree that the focus would be on quality (and) execution (of the resolutions).
“This time around, the projects will have to be action-oriented; KL Summit is going to discuss lots of projects and programmes along the seven pillars that have been decided.
“And, we are mindful of the need to ensure that we have capable people to implement the resolutions.
“I would like to assure you that the KL Summit will pay due regard to your desire to ensure that the recommendations of this forum are implemented effectively, efficiently by people who are credible.
“It is the desire of our prime minister to make sure that we understand issues and, more importantly, come up with recommendations on how we can move forward.
“We have a lot of potential by marshalling all these resources in the spirit of ta’awun (cooperation). “Hopefully, we can progress even faster by harnessing synergies among Muslim countries and Insya-Allah, we will be guided by the young people from Malaysia and countries where you originate from.
“Indeed, it is important to listen to young people on issues of governance, integrity, shared prosperity, and in the case of Malaysia, it is a concept that is being translated into action,” he said in his closing speech at the Youth KL Summit today, adding that the document would be handed to Dr Mahathir who is KL Summit chairman.
On his role at the summit, Mustapa said he would be responsible for putting memoranda of understanding (MoU) together involving business to business collaborations as well as those between governments.
He said the fifth edition of the summit was an initiative of several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and was strongly supported by the Malaysian government.
“As mentioned by the prime minister, this is not an occasion to start a new bloc; Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) remains intact (as) the most important organisation which every Muslim country is a member.
“There are problems in the Muslim world, which many of us are familiar with, like illiteracy, lack of skills, mass migration, Islamophobia.
“And, it is true that we have to begin by talking to the young people.
“In this country, we are embarking on the programme called Undi 18 (Vote 18), which will give the opportunity to those aged 18 to cast their votes in the next election,” said Mustapa.
Earlier, Al-Sharq Youth regional director for Asia Abdullah Ali said the summit provided a platform to learn about opportunities for the younger generation to contribute to the growth of the ummah and Islamic nations.
“The summit provides an opportunity for delegates to voice their ideas, which could be converted into resolutions and concrete plans that can help determine the way forward for youth living in Islamic countries.
“It also serves as a direction on where we should head next so that youth can be the ‘change makers’ inspiring the ummah today,” said Abdullah.
His Malaysian counterpart, Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, urged delegates to create the “right noise” when they return to their respective countries to revive the glory of the Islamic nations.
“The future is ours. If we do not take this responsibility in our hands, then who will?
“And, with the same rigor that you have shown during your presence here, I hope we can also show the same enthusiasm and the same vigour to ensure that the change that has already been put off for so long can finally happen,” she said.