JOHOR BARU: The state government is banking on its youth with its Orang Muda Johor focus area under the Makmur Johor vision.
An initiative under this focus area is the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC), which currently has branches set up in several districts inJohor.
The brainchild of Tunku Mahkota Johor Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, the TMIYC is a place for activity, leadership training, and coordination of volunteer work involving youths.
Former state tourism, youth and sports Committee chairman Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said there was a long-term plan to further expand TMIYCs in major cities and towns in the state.
He said ultimately, the state government wanted to ensure that youths in all 10 districts in Johor could benefit from these centres.
He said after the launch of the Johor Baru and Muar TMIYCs in December 2020, these youth centres would be set up in Simpang Renggam and Pasir Gudang.
He said the TMIYC was set up with the intention of creating new and capable leaders whose hearts lie in activism and volunteer activities.
Speaking to the New Straits Times recently, Onn Hafiz said the youth centres had become a platform for the younger generation to organise and coordinate volunteer work, not only for Johoreans but also Malaysians in general.
"During the flood crisis in December last year, the youths under the Southern Volunteers (SV) platform coordinated flood relief efforts in Selangor, Pahang and Johor as well.
"Thousands of youths came out to help, and we also had help from state agencies. Our work was very effective because it was a team effort.
"Currently, we are in discussions with relevant agencies to provide help to the flood victims in Terengganu and Kelantan. Our SV is monitoring the situation."
During the flood crisis which lasted from December last year until January this year, the SV provided assistance in terms of house-cleaning and channelling aid to flood victims in Johor, Selangor and Pahang.
The Muar TMIYC was turned into a coordination centre which managed to raise over RM600,000 in donations.
Onn Hafiz expressed hope that the TMIYC would be the nucleus for the youths in Johor to expand their horizons by spending time on charity work.
"It is Tunku Ismail's intention for the youth centres to be expanded to each district in Johor, and it is hoped that the youth centres would be fully utilised so that more Malaysians get to benefit from our work," he said.
Under the state budget this year, a RM2.5 million allocation has been set aside for the development of the TMIYC branches in Kluang and Simpang Renggam.
Another RM15 million is being allocated for the TMIYC in Pasir Gudang.
The state government is channelling another RM1.25 million for youth development programmes, including the Saujana Talk, Orang Muda Johor 2022, Medini Leadership Programme, Initiatif Hikmah Johor, Apprentice II Programme and Dewan Muda Johor.