Latest news with #SabahYouthCouncil
Daily Express
16 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Trading Card Games Event II draws over 1,000
Published on: Tuesday, July 22, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 22, 2025 Text Size: Abqaree (seated third left) with Chang (middle) and Ericson (left) and players at The TCG Event II. Kota Kinabalu: The second edition of The TCG Event drew over 1,000 participants from across Sabah over the weekend, highlighting the growing popularity of Trading Card Games (TCG) as a healthy, strategic, and social activity among youth. Sabah Youth Council President Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan, who officiated the closing ceremony at 1Borneo mall on Sunday, said such events are an effective platform to encourage Gen Z and Gen Alpha to connect in real life. 'Young people today have fewer chances for real-world interaction. Events like these encourage them to come out, meet peers, and engage in healthy two-way socialisation,' he said, adding that these activities help nurture both strategic thinking and communication skills. Abqaree urged continued government support and proposed the creation of a structured ecosystem to further grow the TCG community, potentially to the international level. 'Our youth need space, opportunity and platforms. With guidance and support, I believe they can go far,' he added. Organising Chairperson Chang Chee Ken said participation had surged compared to the inaugural edition. 'Last year we had eight card games and five hobby shops. This year, 12 card games were showcased with six stores involved. We had over 1,000 attendees across two days,' he said. One of the featured exhibitors, Ericson Lotidis, owner of R916 Hobby & Foods at Level 1, Megalong Mall Penampang, said the event not only boosted TCG-related sales but also demonstrated strong interest among local youth. 'There's clearly growing potential, especially among teens who are already playing or keen to start. I believe TCG can really thrive going forward,' he said. Ericson's shop, a popular hangout spot for young TCG players offers a variety of games including Magic: The Gathering, Cookie Run: Braverse, and Lorcana. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Over 1,000 gather for Sabah trading card game event
Published on: Monday, July 21, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jul 21, 2025 Text Size: Abqaree presents a prize to a winner while others look on. KOTA KINABALU: The second edition of The TCG Event drew over 1,000 trading card game enthusiasts from across Sabah to 1Borneo over the weekend. Sabah Youth Council President Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the event offered a positive space for Gen Z and Gen Alpha to connect and develop social and strategic skills. Advertisement He added that the state government remains committed to supporting youth-led initiatives and is exploring ways to build a stronger ecosystem for the trading card game (TCG) community. Organising chairperson Chang Chee Ken highlighted the event's growth, with 12 card games and six hobby shops taking part this year, up from eight and five respectively. He said the increased turnout showed growing interest in the TCG scene, with more young people and vendors engaging in the two-day gathering. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Concerns over implementation of Youth Act
Published on: Saturday, July 12, 2025 Published on: Sat, Jul 12, 2025 Text Size: Abqaree said the current age definition of youth as between 15 and 30 does not reflect the socio-economic realities in Sabah, particularly in rural areas. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Youth Council (MBS) has raised concerns over the implementation of the Youth Age Limit Act, which is set to come into effect on Jan 1, 2026, saying it could hinder youth development in the State. MBS President Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the current age definition of youth as between 15 and 30 does not reflect the socio-economic realities in Sabah, particularly in rural areas. He said delayed access to education, later entry into the job market, and infrastructural challenges meant many young people in the state only reach economic and social maturity beyond the age of 30. 'There are still major gaps, especially for rural youth in terms of education and skills readiness,' he said in a statement, Friday. He said many complete their basic or tertiary education later due to logistical issues and limited facilities. He also emphasised enforcing a strict age cap at 30 would exclude a large segment of youth in Sabah who still require policy support and inclusion in development programmes. MBS is proposing that the youth age range be revised to between 15 and 40 years to ensure that national policies remain inclusive and reflective of ground realities. The Council said its proposal is in line with the principles of inclusion and rural community empowerment outlined under the Sabah Maju Jaya development roadmap. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
MBS urges rethink on youth age cap
Published on: Friday, July 11, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Youth Council (MBS) has called for a revision of the national youth age limit policy ahead of its scheduled enforcement on Jan 1, 2026. Its president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan said the current limit of 15 to 30 years does not reflect the developmental realities faced by youth in Sabah. He pointed out that factors such as delayed entry into the workforce, limited access to education, and rural infrastructure gaps mean many young Sabahans only reach socio-economic maturity after 30. Youth in remote areas, he added, continue to face barriers in completing basic or tertiary education due to logistical constraints and limited facilities. Abqaree said enforcing a strict age cap of 30 risks excluding a significant group of Sabah youth still in need of policy support and engagement. He said MBS proposes an adjusted age range of 15 to 40 years to ensure youth programmes remain inclusive and responsive to local needs. The proposal, he said, aligns with Sabah Maju Jaya's focus on inclusive development and would allow more young Sabahans to benefit from state and national initiatives. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Young Sabahans turn to social media amid party scepticism
KOTA KINABALU: A significant number of young Sabahans are becoming politically literate through social media, said Sabah Youth Council president Abqaree Fawwaz Abekan. However, he said that this group of youngsters, aged between 18 and 40, remains sceptical of formal institutions and traditional political parties. Abqaree said younger voters are increasingly looking past party logos and towards individual candidates' track records. "Sabahan youth are primarily concerned with daily, tangible issues such as access to jobs, basic amenities like roads, electricity, clean water, reliable internet, land rights, and the cost of living, especially outside Kota Kinabalu. "This mistrust stems from years of political instability, party-hopping, and leadership that appears inconsistent or out of touch. "Young voters want to see action, not just promises," he told the New Straits Times, while warning of the possibility that they may also decline to vote if there isn't a strong campaign to raise awareness and rekindle interest in choosing credible leaders. While Abqaree said that youngsters, especially from rural Sabah, resonate strongly with the "Sabah for Sabahan" sentiment, Jo-Anna Sue Henley Rampas offered a different perspective on the matter. The research assistant at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) said that while the sentiment continues to gain traction, it is also clear that today's youth are deeply pragmatic. "What they want are realistic policies, meaningful autonomy, and effective delivery mechanisms. "Many are prioritising leadership quality, transparency, and the ability to deliver on real issues: jobs, education, cost of living, and equitable development. "This pragmatism reflects a long-standing political culture in Sabah, where voters are known to cross party lines if it means better governance or greater returns for the state." The former two-time election candidate from Kiulu, who is also studying the political participation of Undi18 voters, said that political parties must rise to the occasion. This state election may well determine whether Sabah's political scene can evolve in step with a younger generation that is values-driven, outcome-focused, and determined to shape a more inclusive and locally grounded future. "If parties continue to neglect youth representation or fail to deliver tangible reforms, they risk being rejected by a generation that's no longer easily swayed by party nostalgia or outdated campaign methods."
