WELCOMING SPEECH BY H.R HON. DATUK SERI UTAMA IR HAJI IDRIS HAJI HARON

CHIEF MINISTER OF MELAKA OFFICIAL DINNER

ASIA URBAN YOUTH ASSEMBLY ( AUYA ) 17TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON

MELAKA TWIN CITIES 2017 26 MARCH 2017 (SUNDAY), 2000 PM

GRAND BALLROOM, HATTEN HOTEL, MELAKA

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HIS EXCELLENCY, TUN DATUK SERI UTAMA MOHD KHALIL BIN YAAKOB, GOVERNOR OF MELAKA; HER EXCELLENCY, TOH PUAN DATUK SERI UTAMA DATO’ ZURINA KASSIM; 1. IT IS AN HONOR TO WELCOME HIS EXCELLENCY, TUN

DATUK SERI UTAMA MOHD KHALIL BIN YAAKOB, THE

GOVERNOR OF MELAKA AND HER EXCELLENCY TOH PUAN

DATUK SERI UTAMA DATO’ ZURINA BINTI KASSIM TO THIS

AUSPICIOUS STATE DINNER.

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2. HIS EXCELLENCY TUN, YOUR PRESENCE HAS MADE OUR

GATHERING MORE CHEERFUL AND EXCITING, THUS HAS

PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENTS TO THE DELEGATES. HIS

EXCELLENCY’S VAST EXPERIENCED AS A DIPLOMAT, CHIEF

MINISTER AND IN POLITICS, RELIGION, ECONOMICS AND SOCIAL

REALMS HAS ENABLED TUN TO SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE TO

THE PEOPLE OF MELAKA AND TRANSFORMED THE STATE TO BE

THE GREENEST, INCLUSIVE, RESILIENT AND LIVEABLE.

ANAK RAJA TURUN KE BENDANG,

TURUN KE BENDANG MENEBANG BULUH;

TUN UMPAMA POHON YANG RENDANG,

TEMPAT KAMI TUMPANG BERTEDUH.

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HIS EXCELLENCY TUN,

3. THE ASIA URBAN YOUTH ASSEMBLY (AUYA) IS A

PLATFORM TO INTENT THE ROLE OF YOUTH IN SHAPING

SUSTAINABLE URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND TO EXPLORE

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEM TO PLAY MEANINGFUL ROLES IN

THE IMPLEMENTATION, FOLLOW UP AND REVIEW OF THE

URBAN AGENDA.

4. WITH ITS THEME: "YOUTH ROLES TOWARDS NEW URBAN

AGENDA – TAKING ACTION FOR INNOVATIVE, SOCIALLY

MINDED, GREEN CITIES", THIS ASSEMBLY IS A GATHERING FOR

YOUTH IN ASIA TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE, TO FIND SOLUTIONS

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AND MAKE COMMITMENTS IN A NEW URBAN AGENDA. THIS IS

ALSO A PLACE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF PARTNERSHIP

ACROSS GENERATIONS AND STAKEHOLDERS.

HIS EXCELLENCY TUN, ALLOW ME TO UPDATE THE FLOW OF

THE CONVENTION.

5. WE STARTED THE THREE DAYS PROGRAM WITH THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE MARCH4HOPE EVENT TO SHOW OUR

SUPPORT OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF MELAKA AS A GREEN

TECHNOLOGY CITY AMONG ALL SEGMENTS OF SOCIETY.

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6. WHILE AT THE EVENING, WE HAVE A NIGHT RIDERS AND

AN EARTH HOUR CITY CHALLENGE THAT INVOLVED A BIG

NUMBER OF PARTICIPATIONS AMONG MELAKA CITIZENS. THIS

PROGRAM AIMS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TOGETHER TO

REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND CARBON BURNING.

7. THIS MORNING, THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER, HIS RIGHT

HONORABLE DATUK SERI UTAMA DR AHMAD ZAHID HAMIDI

GRACED US WITH HIS PRESENCE BY OFFICIALLY OPENING THE

ASSEMBLY WITH A VERY IMPORTANT MESSAGE THAT THE

MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT HAS ALWAYS HEARING FROM

YOUTHS AND THEIR ASPIRATIONS WERE COLLECTED UNDER

THE TN50 INITIATIVE.

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8. I HAVE ALSO HIGHLIGHTED THE STATE’S ACHIEVEMENTS

AND PROGRAMS THAT WE HAVE EMBARKED ON IN ACHIEVING

THE STATE’S GREEN AGENDA AND THE YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN

DECISION MAKING IN LOCAL AUTHORITY.

9. IN THE AFTERNOON, WE HAVE A SPECIAL MEETING WITH

ALL AMBASSADORS. WE AGREED THAT IT IS IMPORTANT TO

CREATE CONTINUOUS FORUMS THAT ENABLE YOUNG PEOPLE

TO VOICE THEIR CONCERNS IN ALL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA.

10. TOMORROW, PARTICIPANTS WILL BE JOINING THE

PLENARY SESSIONS. EIGHT TOPICS WILL BE DISCUSSED

INCLUDES :

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SMART CITIES FOR YOUTH;

YOUTH CONTRIBUTION IN THE DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

OF SMART, INCLUSIVE CITIES, A CITY FOR ALL;

INTEGRATING YOUTH RIGHTS IN CITY PLANNING AND

DEVELOPMENT PRIORITISING YOUTH RIGHTS IN THE

PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT OF URBAN AREAS;

PARTICIPATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN URBAN CRIME

PREVENTION AND VIOLENCE, HARNESSING SCIENCE,

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE NEW URBAN AGENDA;

YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE FOREFRONT OF URBAN PLANNING;

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MECHANISM TO ENCHANCE MEANINGFUL YOUTH

PARTICIPATION AND CONTRIBUTION IN THE SUSTAINABLE

URBAN DEVELOPMENT;

BEST PRACTICES AND LESSONS LEARNT ON SUSTAINABLE

URBAN YOUTH INITIATIVES; AND

YOUNG PEOPLE, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT,

ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND EMPLOYMENT.

11. WE WILL END UP OUR CONVENTION WITH THE

RESOLUTIONS OF THE PROGRAM AND CLOSING CEREMONY

OFFICIATING BY THE MINISTER OF YOUTH AND SPORTS, THE

HONOURABLE BRIG. JEN. KHAIRY JAMALUDDIN.

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12. HIS EXCELLENCY TUN, I HOPE THE UPDATE OF THE FLOW

OF THE CONVENTION JUST NOW SHALL GIVE YOU AN

OVERLARGE PICTURE OF OUR GATHERING.

13. TUN, KINDLY ALLOW ME TO SPEAK TO OUR

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, DELEGATES AND PARTICIPANTS.

THANK YOU, MASTER OF CEREMONY;

THE HONOURABLE DATUK WIRA HJ. OTHMAN BIN MUHAMAD, SPEAKER OF STATE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY; DATUK SERI HJ. NAIM BIN ABU BAKAR, MELAKA STATE SECRETARY;

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DATUK AR. ISMAIL BIN OTHMAN, STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR MEMBER OF URBAN WELLBEING, HOUSING & LOCAL GOVERNMENT MELAKA; HONORARY MEMBERS OF THE MELAKA STATE EXECUTIVE

COUNCILLORS AND STATE ASSEMBLYMEN;

DATUK ZAINAL BIN HUSSIN, MAYOR OF MELAKA HISTORIC CITY COUNCIL; MS. MARIKO SATO, CHIEF UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME, UN- HABITAT BANGKOK; PROF. OYEBANJI OYEYINKA, FORMER DIRECTOR OF UN-HABITAT REGIONAL OFFICE OF AFRICA;

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MR.DOUGLAS RAGAN, CHIEF OF YOUTH & LIVELIHOODSUN- HABITAT; DR. TEE CHING SENG, VICE CHAIRMAN OF YOUTH WING, INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF ASIAN POLITICAL PARTIES UN- HABITAT; AMBASSADORS, MAYORS OF CITY HALLS AND CITY COUNCIL

FROM ALL OVER ASIA OR THEIR REPRESENTATIVES;

DATUK-DATUK, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, SPEAKERS,

CHAIRPERSON;

HEAD OF DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES OF STATE AND

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT;

FRIENDS FROM THE MEDIA, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

SALAM 1 MALAYSIA, (ONE MALAYSIA GREETING);

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SALAM MELAKA MAJU NEGERIKU SAYANG FASA KE-2, (MY BELOVED DEVELOPED MELAKA PHASE 2 GREETING); NEGERI BANDAR TEKNOLOGI HIJAU, (MELAKA STATE OF GREEN TECHNOLOGY CITY GREETING); MELAKA 755 TAHUN, (MELAKA 755 YEARS OLD GREETING).

A VERY PLEASANT EVENING TO ALL.

14. ALHAMDULILLAH, ALL PRAISE AND THANKS BE TO

ALLAH SWT FOR HIS BOUNTIFUL GRACE AND MERCY, WE ARE

ABLE TO GATHER HERE TO CELEBRATE THE ASIA URBAN

YOUTH ASSEMBLY (AUYA) AT THIS PLEASANT EVENING.

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15. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK

EVERYONE WHO PRESENT FOR THE FIRST DAY OF THE EVENT.

TODAY MARKED ANOTHER OUTSTANDING EPISODE FOR THE

MELAKA HISTORIC CITY COUNCIL IN CONJUNCTION WITH ITS

17TH INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION OF MELAKA TWIN CITIES

2017, AS VASTLY COMMITTED AND ENTHUSIASTIC

PARTICIPANTS, DEDICATED SPEAKERS AND VOLUNTEERS

ASSEMBLED FOR THIS EVENT.

16. BEFORE I PROCEED ANY FURTHER, IT GIVES ME A GREAT

PLEASURE TO ADDRESS ALL THE COUNTRY’S DELEGATES AND

PARTICIPANTS OF OUR CONFERENCE. LET US START WITH:-

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1) BANGLADESH; 2) BELIZE; 3) CANADA; 4) CHINA; 5) COLOMBIA; 6) CZECH REPUBLIC; 7) ETHIOPIA; 8) GHANA; 9) HONG KONG; 10) INDIA; 11) INDONESIA; 12) IRAQ; 13) KAZAKHSTAN; 14) KENYA; 15) KOREA; 16) MACEDONIA; 17) MALDIVES; 18) MOROCCO; 19) NEPAL;

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20) NIGERIA; 21) PAKISTAN; 22) PHILIPINES; 23) RWANDA; 24) SOMALIA; 25) TANZANIA; 26) THAILAND; 27) TRINADAD AND TOBAGO; 28) TURKEY; 29) UEA; 30) UGANDA; 31) UNITED STATES; 32) ZAMBIA; 33) ZIMBABWE; AND 34) MALAYSIA

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO

INTRODUCE ALL THE AMBASSADORS. THERE ARE:

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1) HIS EXCELLENCY CARLOS FELIX CORONO,

EMBASSY OF MEXICO;

2) HIS EXCELLENCY MOHAMED FAHMY HASSAN,

EMBASSY OF MALDIVES;

3) HIS EXCELLENCY ATIQULLAH ATIFMAL,

EMBASSY OF ARGANISTAN;

4) HER EXCELLENCY IBETE FERNANDEZ HERNANDEZ,

EMBASSY OF CUBA;

5) HER EXCELLENCY DR.ADRIENNE DIOP,

EMBASSY OF SENEGAL;

6) HER EXCELLENCY DR. MABAPHUTHI MOOROSI-MOLAPO,

HIGH COMMISSIONER OF LESOTHO;

7) MR. A.J.M MUZAMMIL,

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HIGH COMMISSION OF SRI LANKA;

8) MS.ROMEENA SINGH,

HIGH COMMISSION OF FIJI ISLANDS; AND

9) DR. HENRY SAVARIMUTHU,

HONOURARY CONSUL OF VANUATU.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

17. THIS ASSEMBLY IS ORGANISED AT THE APPROPRIATE

TIME WHERE EVERY CORNER OF THE WORLD NOW IS TALKING

ABOUT THE INVOLVEMENT OF YOUTH IN URBAN AGENDA. AS

WE ALL AWARE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE A MAJOR HUMAN

RESOURCE FOR DEVELOPMENT AND KEY AGENTS FOR SOCIAL

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CHANGE, ECONOMIC GROWTH AND TECHNOLOGICAL

INNOVATION.

18. THE MELAKA STATE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES THAT

THERE IS A NEED FOR A COLLECTIVE AND BETTER

UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT YOUTH PARTICIPATION INVOLVES,

HOW IT CAN BE IMPLEMENTED FOR ALL YOUTH AGES.

FURTHERMORE, IT IS CRUCIAL TO DEVELOP A SET OF

VERIFIABLE INDICATORS TO COMPLEMENT THE GOALS AND

TARGETS DEVELOPED TO ASSESS THE PROGRESS ACHIEVED.

19. WE ALWAYS WELCOME CREATIVE AND INNOVATIVE

IDEAS WITH THE HOPE CAN USE THE SUGGESTIONS TO

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TRANSFORM OUR STATE AS WELL AS THE WORLD TO BE A

PLEASANT PLACE TO STAY AT.

20. WE HOPE, THE VARIOUS ISSUES OF YOUTH, THE

CONTRIBUTION AND PARTICIPATION IN THE DECISION MAKING

PROCESS AND TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION AS THE KEY

DRIVERS AND LESSONS LEARNT ON SUSTAINABLE URBAN

YOUTH INITIATIVES THAT DISCUSSED DURING THIS

CONFERENCE WILL BENEFIT PARTICIPANTS AND DELEGATES.

DISTINGUISHED GUESTS,

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN;

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21. ALLAH SWT SAYS IN THE HOLY QURAN CHAPTER AL-ARAF,

VERSE 96:

“BUT IF THE PEOPLE OF THESE REGIONS HAD BELIEVED AND

FEARED GOD, WE WOULD SURELY HAVE SHOWERED ON THEM

BLESSINGS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH; BUT THEY ONLY

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DENIED, AND WE PUNISHED THEM FOR THEIR DEEDS.”

(CHAPTER AL-ARAF, VERSE 96).

22. ONCE AGAIN, THANK YOU TO ALL PRICELESS SPEAKERS,

INCREDIBLE PARTNERS, REMARKABLE VOLUNTEERS, HOTEL

STAFF AND MANAGEMENT, MELAKA COMMUNITY AND DEVOTED

YOUTH ORGANISATIONS FOR THE TREMENDOUS JOB IN MAKING

THIS ASSEMBLY A FRUITFUL ONE.

23. AS MENTIONED BY ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: “GREAT MINDS

DISCUSS IDEAS, AVERAGE MINDS DISCUSS EVENTS, SMALL

MINDS DISCUSS PEOPLE.”

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24. HIS EXCELLENCY TUN DATUK SERI UTAMA MOHD KHALIL

YAAKOB, THE GOVERNOR OF MELAKA AND HER EXCELLENCY

TOH PUAN DATUK SERI UTAMA DATO' ZURINAH BINTI KASSIM;

25. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING AND WE

SOLEMNLY PRAY THAT YOUR EXCELLENCY TUN, HER

EXCELLENCY TOH PUAN AND MEMBERS OF YOUR FAMILY WILL

BE BLESSED BY ALLAH SWT WITH UNBOUNDED HAPPINESS

AND THE BEST OF HEALTH IN THE YEARS TO COME, WHILST

GUIDING AND TAKING THE STATE OF MELAKA TO EVEN

GREATER HEIGHTS IN THE SECOND EPISODE OF DEVELOPED

MELAKA PHASE 2.

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26. LET US PRAY TO ALLAH SWT OUR GATHERING HERE

TODAY WILL BE BLESSED AND OUR DEPARTURE THEREAFTER

TO BE PROTECTED. ON THAT NOTE, I THANK YOU. TERIMA

KASIH.

WABILLAHITAUFIK WALHIDAYAH WASSALAMUALAIKUM

WARAHMATULLAHI WABARAKATUH.

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