PITAS: Sabah Action Body Advocating Rights (SABAR) successfully conducted Cerita Kita – Sesi Kupi-Kupi Bersama Belia Pitas, a pilot youth engagement session under its Belia Says initiative, aimed at listening to and understanding the lived experiences of rural youths.
Held at Acacia Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (AFI) in Bongkol, Pitas, the session gathered 30 participants. The program was organised in collaboration with Acacia Forest Industries (AFI) and Hai Mandak.
The session opened with welcoming remarks by SABAR Chairman of the Board, Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, who highlighted the outcomes of SABAR’s Voices to Action initiative carried out the previous year.
The initiative resulted in a document comprising 117 aspirations and demands collected from grassroots communities and stakeholders across Sabah, which was presented to government bodies and political parties.
Some of these points have since seen action and engagement. Datuk Zainie shared that SABAR will be placing stronger emphasis on youth voices this year, particularly from rural communities, to help foster a culture of empowered and informed youths.
SABAR Youth Chair, Adelina Adna Adenan, provided an overview of SABAR as a non-political and non-religious NGO with 11 core advocacy pillars, including MA63 education and outreach, rural community welfare and economic development, tourism, environment and agriculture, youth development, and resource centre development.
SABAR’s vision, she shared, is for Sabah to be a strong partner in nation-building through shared prosperity, peaceful living, and harmony.
A short talk by Datuk Dr Chua Kim Hing, former Director General of Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (DBKK), addressed Sabah’s ongoing rubbish crisis.
He emphasised that while short-term efforts such as gotong-royong and routine clean-ups are important, long-term solutions require addressing root causes and reshaping public mindsets towards cleanliness and environmental responsibility.
He also encouraged learning from best practices in other communities and countries to ensure sustainable implementation locally.
The core Cerita Kita youth engagement session was facilitated by the Hai Mandak team, led by Priska Magdalena and Calvina. Through interactive discussions, participants shared key challenges faced by youths in Pitas, including poor road conditions, water supply disruptions, electrical outages, and waste management issues.
Economic challenges such as limited job opportunities and low wages were also highlighted. While initiatives by organisations such as AFI through CSR programs have contributed to skills training and product marketing, participants noted the need for broader economic opportunities across other sectors.
Social challenges were also discussed, including peer influence on behaviours such as smoking, loitering, and early sexual activity, as well as a prevailing mindset of giving up when facing difficulties in job seeking.
The session also included a visual and interactive introduction to civic education, covering the importance of voting, the three tiers of government, and the executive, legislative, and judiciary systems.
This segment helped participants better understand their rights and the impact of collective decision-making. Many participants expressed that this knowledge was new to them, and the session sparked increased curiosity and engagement.
Cerita Kita is designed as a listening-first platform rather than a solution-driven forum. As a pilot under Belia Says, it reflects SABAR’s commitment to going to the ground, listening
without judgement, and understanding community needs before proposing change.
Through Belia Says, SABAR aims to continue engaging youths across Sabah, documenting their experiences, concerns, and aspirations, while fostering hope and encouraging a culture of informed, socially responsible young leaders who will shape Sabah’s future.
SABAR welcomes collaboration with like-minded individuals, groups, and organisations to support and expand this initiative in the months and years ahead.-pr/BNN
