JOHOR BAHRU, Nov 20 — A total of 1.6 million youths in the state will benefit from the initiatives outlined under the Johor Budget 2022 which aim to empower the group.
Menteri Besar Datuk Hasni Mohammad said the initiatives for the youths who represent 43.4 per cent of the state population, comprised various aspects such as sports, fitness, social, arts, leadership and community.
He added that under the Orang Muda Johor (OMJ) (Young Johoreans) Agenda, the Youth Activity Hub and Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) would be expanded to Kluang, Pasir Gudang and Iskandar Puteri districts, in addition to the construction of Gym Rakyat next year.
“Apart from that, a total of RM1.5 million will be allocated through the Dato’ Onn Institute to continue to empower the potentials of OMJ by developing the One-Stop Centre for Youth.
“The state government is also committed to strengthening the roles of Southern Volunteers, Johor Youth Development Centre (JOYDEC) through an allocation of RM1 million,” he said in his speech at the OMJ Festival 2021 at the TMIYC here today.
Elaborating, Hasni said various sports-based initiatives would also be carried out with an allocation of RM14.5 million.
He said it included the Grit Johor 2030 programme; Talent Development Programme by the Johor Sports Council; and Sukan Makmur XTIF Johor Carnival, apart from assisting graduates through the Undergraduate Internet programme, Education Assistance Scheme as well as skills training programme.
Hasni added that a total of RM1.5 million has been allocated for initiatives related to the empowerment of the Rukun Tetangga (Neighbourhood Watch), young generation and racial unity.
For the record, in 2019, the state government defined youth as those aged 15 to 40.
Earlier, Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim officiated the OMJ Festival 2021 which will be held until Dec 26, with over 80 programmes and activities to be carried out throughout the state, targeting the participation of 100,000 youth.
