GEORGE TOWN, July 31 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is strengthening youth diplomacy and regional cooperation by empowering young people to become active contributors to sustainable development and cross-border collaboration, Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Mordi Anak Bimol said.
He said youth exchange programmes between Malaysia and Singapore should not be viewed merely as cultural visits but as structured leadership platforms that prepare young people to tackle regional challenges while strengthening bilateral ties.
"The initiative reflected the Youth and Sports Ministry's commitment to expanding youth internationalisation in line with the Malaysia MADANI Youth Development Model 2030.
"This exchange is far from a leisure excursion, it is a structured leadership development framework designed to groom, challenge and empower the next generation of regional changemakers, you are here not simply to observe, but to grow into capable leaders for our region," he said while delivering a speech to officiate the closing ceremony of the Malaysia-Singapore Youth Leaders Exchange Programme (MSYLEP), here tonight.
The seven-day programme, themed "Environmental Awareness and Cultural Exchange", brought together youths from Malaysia and Singapore to participate in dialogues, site visits and collaborative discussions focusing on environmental sustainability and cultural heritage at two countries.
Mordi said Malaysia and Singapore have long enjoyed strong bilateral relations and people-to-people connections, particularly among young people, remain the foundation of the enduring partnership.
He expressed hope that friendships forged during the programme would evolve into future collaborations and innovations that benefit both countries and the wider ASEAN region.
He said youth internationalisation remains one of the ministry's priority agendas, implemented through the National Youth and Sports Department (JBSN) under two strategic pillars: championing global youth diplomacy and strengthening regional strategic alliances.
"These initiatives aim to provide Malaysian youths with greater exposure to international platforms while ensuring ASEAN youth voices are represented in discussions on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global policymaking," he added.
He said Penang's unique blend of biodiversity and centuries-old heritage provided an ideal setting for participants to appreciate the close relationship between environmental conservation and cultural preservation.
"Protecting our planet and preserving our heritage are not isolated responsibilities; they are cross-border, cross-generational commitments. Through your dialogues and collaborative brainstorming, you have demonstrated that youth are no longer merely the leaders of tomorrow, but are actively shaping the sustainability landscape of today," he added.
-- BERNAMA