KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Young people in Malaysia have been urged to “be brave,” and make their voices heard on the world stage, at a Commonwealth conference in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend.
The Commonwealth Association of Leadership Malaysia (CALM) hosted the discussion at Spaces in Platinum Sentral with the theme: Young Millennials Leading in Malaysia.
It featured young Malaysian environmental scientist, Dr Renard Siew, one of the founders of PichaEats Kim Lim as well as the Australian high commission’s political and economics counsellor, Nicola Campion, providing an external perspective.
Dr Siew, a member of the United Nations’ Collective Climate Action Group said millennials need to step up.
“You need to know the ‘why’ of what you’re wanting to achieve, find your ‘tribe’ of like-minded people and get a seat at the table of influencers and decision-makers,” he said.
“Millennials are brave,” according to Lim. “Young people are putting Malaysia on the map and it’s good to see that we’re also challenging stereotypes including people’s negative views of refugees.”
Nicola Campion said Malaysians sometimes underestimate the influence they have on the global stage.
“Young Malaysians can and are making a difference; Malaysia itself has a vital role to play in shaping our region – its voice is heard and listened to,” she said.
CALM was established a year ago to help develop future government, industry and non-governmental organisational leaders in Malaysia and to build networks and friendships in the Commonwealth.
“I’m proud at what CALM has achieved in such a short time – we’ve been able to reach out to fellow Malaysians across the country with events in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching and members hold leadership positions and are influencing global Commonwealth organisations,” said CALM’s president Hanaa Wong Abdullah.
