Kota Kinabalu: Students are encouraged to take an active interest in current events and keep up with them.
Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said young people need to challenge themselves to acquire keen thinking skills and critical analysis of what is occurring in the country and the world.
“Having this ability will help (students) create solid opinions when engaging in heavy and serious discussions like politics,” he said at the 20th International Understanding Day Bazaar here, on Sunday.
The bazaar was organised by the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu and the Interact Clubs, with 11 schools participating this year.
In connection with International Understanding Day, each Interact Club represented a specific country and displayed its culture in many categories.
According to Joniston, such an event provides an excellent opportunity for young people to have a thorough understanding and appreciation of other cultures around the world.
“Students are the next generation of leaders. This kind of extracurricular activity, in my opinion, will aid (students) in developing into stronger leaders by broadening their perspective and expanding your horizons.
“This is crucial as students enter the real world, where they will experience conflicts and challenges that will affect nation-building,” he said.
While students foster understanding of various cultures, Joniston emphasised they must not lose sight of their own rich culture.
“At the Ministry of Tourism Culture and Environment, we take pride in promoting Sabah as a premier eco-tourism destination and our hospitable and friendly people.
“Therefore, we encourage students to play the role as ambassadors and help spread the word about Sabah,” he added.
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