Youth must redefine, lead future of cultural heritage, says S’wak minister

Lee (seated front, centre) poses with the guests and participants.

MIRI (April 20): The younger generation must go beyond inheriting cultural traditions and take an active role in shaping the future of their heritage, said state Transport Minister Dato Sri Lee Kim Shin.

Speaking to the youths at the opening of the Hakka Youth Camp here on Friday, Lee stressed that cultural preservation is not just about learning the language, cuisine or participating in cultural events but about evolving these traditions into something meaningful for a new era.

“Young people today are growing up in an age of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and the waves of globalisation, in which it is also a time marked by information overload and rich cultural diversity where shifting values and constant challenges are the norm.

“Amidst these shifts, we must not only hold onto our roots but also step forward and lead the change,” he said.

Lee expressed his hope that the three-day, two-night camp, held at Eastwood Valley Golf and Country Club, would serve as ‘a starting point’ for the participants to foster knowledge-sharing and revitalise interest in Hakka heritage.

“I encourage all of you to tell our Hakka story in your own voice – through your interests and areas of expertise such as music, art, technology, or entrepreneurship.

“Culture should be a platform for expression, not a burden,” said Lee, who is from a Hakka-speaking background.

With sessions like ‘Youth Trends’, ‘Cultural Innovation Workshop’ and ‘Inter-Association Exchange Platform’, the camp drew participation from Hakka youth across Malaysia, including Sarawak, Sabah, Perlis, Pahang, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, as well as from Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Taiwan.

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