RECALLING the saying that the child is the father of the man,                                                                                         
we are reminded that the time available to our youths is the                                                                                          
most useful thing they can have.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
But it must be recognised that without proper help and                                                                                                
assistance from their parents and the authorities, they can                                                                                           
never hope to grow into useful citizens.                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                      
We need not be too concerned about their present failings if                                                                                          
We are aware that these have resulted from causes beyond their                                                                                        
control. We must give them space to Move around. Too many                                                                                             
restrictions will make our youths lose their zest for' life'                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
The nation has great things in store for the young. They stand                                                                                        
as the backbone of our future progress as a developed country.                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
In a similar vein, we have to give our youths enough                                                                                                  
challenges to surmount and sufficient role models to emulate.                                                                                         
Sadly, our record as parents and adults in this area is                                                                                               
generally patchy and lacklustre.                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
What has gone amiss? In the first place, we are trying to                                                                                             
shackle and limit their potential so that they could fit                                                                                              
snugly into our own mould.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
Secondly, we strive to become their spokespersons. We make                                                                                            
apologies for them.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Thirdly, in our haste to achieve national targets, the                                                                                                
authorities tend to become overprotective of our youths,                                                                                              
shielding them from unwanted outside influences. In the end,                                                                                          
our national efforts tend to appear ancient and behind time.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
The manifestations of these happenings are evident everywhere.                                                                                        
Our youths are reacting to the situation in standard fashion.                                                                                         
They find solace in drugs anti-social behaviour and crime.                                                                                            
Even juveniles are not spared.                                                                                                                        
                                                                                                                                                      
The attendant problems are the breakup of the family order and                                                                                        
disrespect for custom and tradition and a high incidence of                                                                                           
vandalism.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
In response, we have begun to notice the indifference in our                                                                                          
children to things that matter to us and even to the nation.                                                                                          
                                                                                                                                                      
We highlight their inability to think through their problems,                                                                                         
their over-dependence on the authorities, and the assumed                                                                                             
right to pass the blame to the public and society for all                                                                                             
their problems.                                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
What is required from us is a more open and honest position.                                                                                          
We have to manoeuvre between being too prudish and being too                                                                                          
liberal.                                                                                                                                              
	                                                                                                                                                     
The need for a strong grounding in civic education is                                                                                                 
essential.                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
The details of a training programme can include such subjects                                                                                         
as the awareness of a citizen's rights, responsibilities and                                                                                          
roles, essentials of good citizenship, good governance and                                                                                            
accountability, inculcation of moral and good behaviour and                                                                                           
national patriotism.                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                                                                                      
Such a programme can encompass the whole relationship between                                                                                         
the youth and himself, the family and the community on one                                                                                            
level, and his position, the demands of a citizen, a nation                                                                                           
and the international community on the other level.                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
The first part is given to the youth realising his inner                                                                                              
strength and potential, and the other towards sustaining his                                                                                          
external image and character.                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
The religious and moral aspects have to be equally emphasised.                                                                                        
The role of the individual in this regard is paramount.                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                      
Attention needs to be given on imparting an understanding of                                                                                          
the individual's role in the context of his relationship with                                                                                         
Man the environment and the Creator.  Only then can we expect                                                                                         
the individual to know his place in the scheme of things in                                                                                           
this world and then adjust his behaviour accordingly.                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                                      
There are other-areas we can zero in to help our youths in                                                                                            
gaining their foothold in this country.  The Malaysian                                                                                                
Institute of Management has instituted an Award for Young                                                                                             
Managers. Introduced some time back, the award recognises the                                                                                         
importance of the contribution of youths to the continuous                                                                                            
development of management.                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                      
More substantially, the institute has been sponsoring the                                                                                             
development of young executives and professionals in an annual                                                                                        
youth leadership- development programme in collaboration with                                                                                         
the Royal Malaysian Navy in Lumut and the Konrad Adenauer                                                                                             
Foundation.. The Tun Razak Youth Leadership Awards is a                                                                                               
seven-day exercise on developing leadership skills of young                                                                                           
Malaysians in their '20s from across the nation.                                                                                                      
                                                                                                                                                      
One fact that has come to light is the aversion of our                                                                                                
authorities to allow our youths to dabble in politics. This                                                                                           
may not necessarily be the right direction to go.                                                                                                     
                                                                                                                                                      
Political education is part of the process of growing up. They                                                                                        
need to be exposed to politics even from an early age. Such                                                                                           
knowledge can make leaders of our youths.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
As leaders of tomorrow, they must also be regarded as agents                                                                                          
of change. How then can we nurture this quality in our youths                                                                                         
if we put obstacles in their path?                                                                                                                    
                                                                                                                                                      
Opportunities have to be created to develop our youths to                                                                                             
become leaders. It must be remembered that our present leaders                                                                                        
have also once been active in student politics during their                                                                                           
student days.                                                                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                                      
There are enough examples Through out the region that can                                                                                             
stand up to the students' scrutiny and from which they can                                                                                            
draw encouragement.                                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
Similarly, our students who were in London at one time have                                                                                           
been active participants in political affairs. Most have                                                                                              
returned to lead the country today.                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                                      
What can we make of all these?  We cannot prevent our students                                                                                        
from growing up just like other kids. As parents, we want our                                                                                         
children to have the best. So long as they act within the                                                                                             
bounds of property, we can - live and let live.                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                                      
The voice of management cries out to society to help shape and                                                                                        
influence our young to be positive contributors to national                                                                                           
development. There is the growing need to support academic                                                                                            
development with social development so that young people                                                                                              
acquire social skills accompanied by a concern for society and                                                                                        
the well being of others.                                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                                      
Responsibility has to be taught from young. Upon this                                                                                                 
responsibility will depend the ethical behaviour of the                                                                                               
executives and professionals they will eventually become.