Kota Kinabalu - A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the Muslim Youth Movement (Abim) Sabah branch and the Brunei-Muara District of Youth Council here to strengthen existing ties and cooperation between the youths in both countries.
Muddin Beting signed the agreement on behalf of Abim Sabah along with Brunei-Muara District of Youth Council Vice President, Hj Awg Yusof Hj Awg Murni.
Youth and Sports Ministry Permanent Secretary, Susannah Liau witnessed the signing ceremony by both parties at the ministry`s office in Wisma Muis here.
Susannah expressed hope that any planning of youth development programmes and activities in both countries would be structured and carried out more systematically.
"I was made to understand that both parties have been carrying out activities that benefited the youths in Sabah and Brunei Darussalam even before the signing of the MoU. Hence, I am confident that the official cooperation forged through the MoU would further shape youth development in both countries," Liau said.
Muddin said the signing of the MoU was a proposal raised during Abim Sabah`s visit to Brunei during `Kembara Amal` 2nd service event in December last year. For a start they are planning to organise `Kembara Amal` third series this year to give local youths here an opportunity to learn other cultures in Brunei Darussalam.
We hope to kick off the charity programme this year and to have an exchange of youths between Sabah and Brunei Darussalam through the foster family programme. Apart from that, we will organise more community activities, Muddin said.
Yusof, meanwhile, said they would focus on fostering closer ties with the youths in Sabah through Abim and organise more family-oriented programmes together.
On the MoU, he said, both parties have agreed to cooperate in implementing youth programmes through five aspects, namely, socio-culture, sports, education (training and publication), human capital and economic activities aimed solely to benefit youths of both countries.
Source: www.brunei-online.com (25 Juni 2007)