KUALA LUMPUR Oct 19 – The government has allocated a sum of RM81.8 million for the Rakan Muda Programme and the National Social Service Programme for youths in the 2002 Budget.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in tabling the Budget in the Dewan Rakyat here today, said that the Rakan Muda Programme will be continued with renewed features and form part of the national agenda for the development of youths.
“A total of 3.5 million youths will participate in more than 35,250 activities at the national, state and district levels under this programme,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also said that the National Social Service Programme which aims to cultivate self-reliance and inculcate good values will be extended to 20,000 youths.
These programmes will be for students awaiting their SPM examination results, he said.
The promotion and publicity for the Rakan Muda Programme will be organised on an ongoing basis to attract youths to participate in activities that suit their interests, he said.
Dr Mahathir also said that the government wishes to congratulate and record its appreciation to the national SEA Games contingent for their overwhelming success in attaining the nation’s best ever SEA Games performance, with 111 gold medals.
“Training efforts for our national athletes will be intensified to enable them to excel in the Asian and Olympic Games,” he said.
The Prime Minister said that sports and recreational activities will be enhanced.
As sports is for people of all ages, he said, additional activities in the form of competitions for ordinary people will be organised.
“In addition, new sports activities such as extreme sports and motor sports will continue to be introduced through competitions and demonstrations,” he said.
He said that in 2002, Malaysia will host an extreme sports event at the Asian level.
This new sport is aimed at attracting the interests of youths as well as to spend their time constructively and productively, he added.
Utusan Malaysia
