by BERNAMA

KAJANG – The staff of the Youth and Sports Ministry (KBS) has been urged to carry out a comprehensive mapping of its strategy for this year, especially in ensuring the smooth reopening of the sports and recreation sector.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican (picture) said the reopening of the sector was important to fulfil one of the core objectives of the Strategic Programme to Empower People and the Economy (PEMERKASA), namely ‘to drive economic recovery’ and make the government’s strategy more effective and comprehensive.

“Today we are at the reform phase. As the name suggests, we must all ensure our strategic initiatives and plans which began in 2021 fulfil the principles and framework of the Prime Minister’s reform,” he said in his speech at the KBS Excellence Service Awards (APC) near here today.

PEMERKASA is an initiative announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in March as the government’s latest effort to revive the country’s economy and continue targeted assistance to the people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He also urged them to review the ‘6R Strategy’, namely resolve; resilient; restart; recovery; revitalise; and reform; to face the COVID-19 challenge as stated by Muhyiddin previously.

Reezal Merican also urged KBS staff to show their full support and not be divided in implementing the new year’s initiatives, such as the New Youth Development Model, 2030 National Sports Vision and Sports Industry Blueprint.

Meanwhile, he said he was satisfied with the achievements of the 2020 KBS APC recipients although the country was hit by the pandemic and hoped that they would go on to become agents of excellence to everyone in the ministry.

A total of 410 KBS personnel were given recognition for their outstanding achievements last year, with the recipients being awarded certificates of excellent service and RM1,000 incentives in the form of Bank Simpanan Nasional Premium Savings Certificates.

Also present were Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal and KBS secretary-general Datuk M Noor Azman Taib.