KOTA KINABALU: Juvenile offenders were yesterday advised and encouraged to acquire skills and knowledge in order to become important assets of the country.
Sabah Welfare Department director Itong Terang said during the Youth Merdeka Workshop organised by the Sabah Women Advisory Council at the STBKK multi-purpose hall near her that the government had provided ample guidance to help them better their lives in the future.
“The mistakes that you have made are not major. We all make mistakes and we all should learn from our mistakes,” he said.
He added that they should never stop having their own dreams and ambitions to better their lives.
“If you want to acquire wealth, there are means to do it. If you want to acquire knowledge, there are also means to do it. What is imperative is that we must plan our strategies to attain that aim,” he said.
Itong then called on the juvenile offenders to be attentive in acquiring skills and knowledge that would help them when they go out into the world.
“Knowledge and skills will help keep us strong and steer us away from negative influences, including friends who do not have our best interest in their minds,” he said.
He urged them to be wary when selecting the crowd they mingle with and warned that it was risky to be around friends with negative attributes. He also urged them to find a positive role model to whom they can look up to for guidance and inspiration.
Itong then reminded the youths that the government is behind them and would provide them with assistance in the form of capital if they decide to start their own business when they go out.