THOUGH 36 YEARS OLD, SSEAYP STILL VERY RELEVANT, SAYS MALAYSIAN PM'S WIFE

PUTRAJAYA, Nov 20 (Bernama) -- Since it was started in 1974, the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme (SSEAYP) is still very relevant in laying the foundation and groundwork in developing leaders of tomorrow, said the Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor.

Rosmah said this was because the programme provided an excellent and
positive platform to enable the youth in the Asean region and Japan to exchange
ideas and views.

“Through closer understanding between countries in the region, we can build
an Asean identity and aspire towards a 1 Asean community,” she said in her
speech at the welcoming ceremony of the SSEAYP here Thursday.

Implemented by the Japanese government, the SSEAYP started from a Joint
Statement issued in January 1974 among Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore
and Thailand.

For this year's programme, it is being participated by 319 youths and
Malaysia has been chosen to be the third port of call after Japan and
Philippines.



Rosmah said young people had an enormous stake in the present and
future state of Earth as almost half of the world's population is under the age
of 25.

“Therefore if these resources, energy, time and knowledge are not managed
positively, it may in turn be misdirected towards violence, social ills and
terrorism which could be detrimental to the countries concerned,” she said.

In most countries, Rosmah said, issues affecting youth today were no longer
what used to be 20-30 years ago and issues pertaining to youth development had
become more complex and cross cutting in nature.

“Thus it is important that we bring together youths from various countries
in the Asean region and Japan to share their experiences and challenges to
enable them to better understand each other,” Rosmah added.

-- BERNAMA