PITAS: Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) has launched the pilot session of its “Cerita Kita” youth engagement programme in Pitas, aimed at listening to and understanding the lived experiences of rural youths.
The session last Sunday (25 Jan), held at Acacia Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (AFI) in Bongkol, gathered 30 participants and was organised in collaboration with AFI and Hai Mandak under SABAR’s Belia Says initiative.
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SABAR board chairman Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, in his welcoming remarks, highlighted the outcomes of last year’s Voices to Action initiative, which compiled 117 aspirations and demands from grassroots communities and stakeholders across Sabah. The document was presented to government bodies and political parties, with several points already seeing follow-up action and engagement.
He said SABAR will place stronger emphasis this year on elevating youth voices, particularly from rural communities, to nurture a culture of empowered and informed young people.
SABAR Youth chair Adelina Adna Adenan introduced the organisation as a non-political and non-religious NGO built on 11 advocacy pillars, including MA63 education and outreach, rural welfare and economic development, tourism, environment and agriculture, youth development, and resource centre development.
She said SABAR’s vision is for Sabah to be a strong partner in nation-building through shared prosperity, peace and social harmony.
Former Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) director-general Datuk Dr Chua Kim Hing delivered a short talk on Sabah’s ongoing waste management challenges.
He stressed that while short-term efforts such as community clean-ups are important, long-term solutions require addressing root causes and reshaping public attitudes toward cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
He also encouraged adopting best practices from other communities and countries to ensure sustainable local implementation.
The core Cerita Kita session, facilitated by the Hai Mandak team led by Priska Magdalena and Calvina, featured interactive discussions where participants shared key challenges faced by youths in Pitas.
These included poor road conditions, water supply disruptions, electrical outages and waste management issues.
Economic concerns such as limited job opportunities and low wages were also raised. While participants acknowledged the contribution of corporate social responsibility initiatives by organisations like AFI in providing skills training and product marketing support, they stressed the need for wider economic opportunities across multiple sectors.
Social issues discussed included peer influence on behaviours such as smoking, loitering and early sexual activity, as well as a tendency among some youths to give up when facing difficulties in job seeking.
The programme also included an interactive introduction to civic education, covering voting rights, the three tiers of government, and the roles of the executive, legislative and judiciary. Many participants said the segment introduced new knowledge and sparked greater curiosity about civic participation.
SABAR described Cerita Kita as a listening-first platform rather than a solution-driven forum, reflecting its commitment to engaging communities directly and understanding needs before proposing change.
Through the Belia Says initiative, SABAR aims to continue engaging youths across Sabah, documenting their experiences and aspirations while fostering a generation of informed and socially responsible young leaders.
The organisation has invited collaboration from individuals and groups interested in supporting and expanding the programme.
