YOUTH FACE ACUTE SHORTAGE OF HEALTHY PROGRAMMES

SHAH ALAM: There is an acute shortage of programmes attractive enough to
entice youth away from the thrill of popping designer pills, said Youth and
Sports Deputy Minister Datuk Ong Tee Keat.

"As we tell the youth to stay off drugs, we also must examine the
facilities in the community.

"Are we providing enough interesting programmes to keep them entertained in
a healthy way? I do not think so,'' he said.

Ong added some youth-orientated programmes organised by community elders
failed to attract the younger generation because they were boring.

He said elders must tailor the programmes according to the needs and wants
of the youths.

"If we want the youths to listen to us, we must first listen to them. At
least keep abreast with the changing trends and the current favourites of
the youths.

"I encourage leaders to mix with the youth, obtain their views and
opinions, then formulate activities to entice them away from drugs,'' he said.

Ong added he and his boss, Datuk Hishammuddin Tun Hussein, were also
immersing themselves in understanding the younger generation.

He admitted some of the current youth trends were "a little alien'' to him,
but that he would not let the age difference deter him from reaching out to
them.

"The so-called X-treme sports still raise the eyebrows of some of our
elders. But this is the "in'' thing for the youths, we need to accept it
and find ways to incorporate this into our anti-Ecstasy campaign,'' said
Ong who is also the MCA Youth chief.

Apart from interesting programmes, Ong also pointed out the lack of
facilities to host youth programmes.

He added the problem of inadequate sports complexes or community halls were
more prominent in urban areas experiencing the population boom.

"And for areas with nice, big multi-purpose complexes, it is sad to see
these halls closed for most of the year.

"These places can be put to full use in organising programmes for the
youths,'' he said.