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KUALA LUMPUR - Youth Economic Forum 2022 saw 32 prominent figures delivering impactful and significant message for youths in seeing challenges as opportunities and ways to avoid pessimism.
Among notable speakers were caretaker Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Aziz, Pengerang MP Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Ikhlas Capital Chairman and Founding Partner Tan Sri Nazir Razak and Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Organised by Perdana Fellow Alumni Associations (PFAA), the talks themed ‘Overcoming Crisis - Dangers and Opportunities’ was aimed to engage all levels of societies in rebuilding resilient recovery from the pandemic.
Over 1,000 participants attended the talks held from 8.30am to 6.30pm held at Sasana Kijang, Bank Negara Malaysia.
The event was divided into six key topics starting with The Education Agenda, The Sustainability Agenda, The Digital Agenda, The Business Agenda, The Economic Agenda and The Political Agenda.
PFAA president Mistika Idris during her speech reminded youths they had a huge responsibility for the country which was to restore Malaysians’ dream of prosperity, inclusivity and sustainability.
“My primary message today is going to be to reject pessimism and cynicism; know that progress is possible, that our problems can be solved.
“Progress requires the harder path of breaking down barriers, and building bridges, and standing up for the values of tolerance and diversity.
“Progress is not inevitable, and it requires struggle and perseverance and discipline and faith. But that’s the story of how we as a generation will persevere,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zafrul during the event spoke on “Charting a Positive Course for Nation Building with Agility, Resilience and Impact” which signified the challenges facing Malaysia and how the country will face them.
“I have mentioned the importance of youth in policy making for the country and our economy in 2022 are still in a good situation.
“However, we need to be careful and ready as the global economy rate is expected to be more challenging next year due to several factors such as geopolitics in Russia and Ukraine and rising prices due to inflation and also climate change.
“We have to be ready for this and the government should be more prepared to face 2023 as we as a small country will be affected by the global crisis,” he said.