Kota Kinabalu: Minister of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy (MySpace) Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan is on a mission to transform the ministry perception from a small peripheral entity to a strategic powerhouse within the government.
He made the call at the Ministerial Mandate and Corruption-Free Pledge Ceremony held Tuesday morning.
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“I would like to state my position clearly, the Ministry of Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy is not and can no longer be seen as a peripheral ministry, and we are not a side ministry that only manages events, seasonal programmes or symbolic activities.
“Under my leadership, we must be proven to be a strategic ministry that directly contributes to social well-being, human capital formation and the future economic strength of Sabah.
“Youth, sports and the creative economy are core components of the State’s development. If we fail to manage youth well, we are postponing future social problems. If we fail to harness sports and creativity as an industry, we are missing out on a huge economic opportunity.
“Therefore, I want all ministry staff to understand that our responsibility is huge and has a long-term impact,” he said.
He also said sports must be seen as a social and economic investment as the allocated resources toward developing grassroots programmes and high-performance athletes lay the groundwork for a sustainable sports ecosystem.
“The development of grassroots sports and high-performance athletes must move in tandem with the construction of a sustainable sports ecosystem, so that sports are not just an expense, but an industry that contributes to the economy, tourism and image of the State.”
He also emphasised the importance of the Sabah Sports Welfare Fund to be launched this year.
“This initiative reflects the State government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare of athletes, coaches who have contributed their energy, time and dedication to the State. Their welfare must be maintained continuously and in a structured manner.”
On the corruption-free pledge, he said it is not an empty ritual but a reminder that they bear the trust from the people and every betrayal will damage the trust in the government.
“I would like to emphasise that under my leadership, there is no tolerance for corruption, abuse of power or negligence in carrying out responsibilities.
“Every decision, every approval and every service must be born from clean intentions and a commitment to work hard for the community, not for personal interests.”
