Latest news with #YouthandSportsDepartment
Shafaq News
7 days ago
- Sport
- Shafaq News
+30,000-seat stadium halted by funding shortage
Shafaq News - Al-Anbar Al-Anbar's Olympic stadium, stalled at 75% of its completion, faces indefinite delays amid funding shortages and planning problems, an Iraqi official reported on Tuesday. Speaking to Shafaq News, Imad al-Mashhadani, director of Al-Anbar's Youth and Sports Department, explained that the stadium was scheduled to open this year, but persistent financial constraints have postponed the launch indefinitely. Designed to hold more than 30,000 spectators, the stadium is among the largest sports facilities under construction in western Iraq. Omar Hussein, a former Ramadi club player, stressed the impact its completion would have on local athletes. 'It would provide a proper training environment and could support a local league matching Anbar's talent,' Hussein noted. 'Without a proper stadium, we have lost the chance to host tournaments and many players stopped playing.' The stalled stadium project, he added, reflects wider challenges facing Al-Anbar's sports sector, which continues to struggle with limited funding, weak institutional support and poor infrastructure. In recent years, the Youth and Sports Directorate has partnered with local initiatives to renovate playgrounds and establish small sports centers. However, these efforts remain limited in scope and lack coordinated planning.
The Star
17-06-2025
- The Star
Former Melaka govt dept director claims trial to bribery, false claims charges
MELAKA: A 51-year-old former director of the Melaka Youth and Sports Department has claimed trial to five charges of receiving bribes and submitting false claims amounting to RM126,100. Khairol Adri Rosli entered a plea of not guilty after all the charges were read out to him before Sessions judge Elesabet Paya Wan in Ayer Keroh on Tuesday (June 17). On the first charge, the accused is alleged to have submitted false particulars of upgrading works for the tennis and petanque courts at the Melaka State Youth and Sports Complex, amounting to RM126,100. The offence was allegedly committed at the Youth and Sports Department office on Dec 8, 2023. The charge was framed under Section 18 of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Act 2009, punishable under Section 24(2), which provides for up to 20 years' jail and a fine no less than five times the value of the false claim or RM10,000, whichever is higher, upon conviction. For the second to fifth charges, he is alleged to have received RM8,000 from one Shaari So'od, 63, who had a vested interest in the upgrading works of the tennis and petanque courts at the complex. The offences were allegedly committed at four different locations around the Melaka International Trade Centre (MITC) and Bukit Baru here between Sept 25, 2023 and June 25 last year. For these offences, Khairol was charged under Section 165 of the Penal Code, which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison, or a fine, or both if found guilty. DPP Sharina Farhana Nor Sa'ari proposed bail of RM25,000 for all the charges with additional conditions. Lawyer T. Gajendran, representing the accused, appealed for a lower amount as his client has to support his family. The court set bail at RM20,000 for all charges and fixed Aug 15 for next mention.
The Star
18-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Perak to set youth organisation age limit at 30
IPOH: Beginning next year, youth organisations will see their membership age capped at 30, says a Perak executive councillor. State education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman Khairudin Abu Hanipah ( pic ) said the structural change is aimed at ensuring youth activism continues in a dynamic and progressive manner. 'This year will be the final year for the existing age limit of 40 under the Youth Societies and Youth Development (Amendment) Act. 'This change follows careful planning and organisational restructuring,' he said after opening the state-level National Youth Day Carnival here yesterday. 'I believe most youth organisations are already preparing to comply with the new regulation. We hope this will ensure they continue to operate actively and smoothly under the new framework,' he added. Citing 2025 data from the Statistics Department, Khairudin said there are about 708,700 youths aged 15 to 30 in Perak, representing 27.6% of the state's population. 'The youth represent a strategic demographic that will shape the direction and future of the state over the next decade,' he said. Khairudin also encouraged all youth organisations in the state to remain inclusive by involving representatives from diverse backgrounds, including those from rural and suburban areas. 'Women, the Orang Asli community and youths with disabilities should also be included to ensure every group is well represented in the state's development agenda,' he said. Separately, Khairudin said the state government plans to introduce courses to increase youth involvement in the dirty, dangerous and difficult (3D) sector. These efforts, he said, will be coordinated with the Youth and Sports Department and the state Youth Council. 'Based on our findings, we may include 3D skills courses as part of our efforts to strengthen human capital development, especially among the youth. 'With training and support, interested youth can gain the necessary skills and view the 3D sector as a viable income source. 'Many do not know where to begin or which channels to access. With the right information and exposure, more youth may be willing to venture into this field. 'If we view the 3D sector as one that can help youths earn a living, then perhaps the state Youth Council and Youth and Sports Department could take the initiative to offer proper exposure, courses and guidance,' he added. Responding to questions about the lack of youth interest in 3D jobs, Khairudin said it may stem from misconception. 'This may be a new sector to them and they may not fully understand the opportunities it presents, especially in terms of income generation and career development,' he added.
The Star
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Perak govt to introduce courses to boost youth engagement in 3D sector
IPOH: The Perak government plans to introduce courses aimed at increasing youth involvement in the 3D (dirty, dangerous, and difficult) sector, says Khairudin Abu Hanipah. The state education, higher education, youth and sports committee chairman said they would work with the Youth and Sports Department and the state Youth Council to introduce these courses. "With training and support, interested youth could gain the necessary skills and view the 3D sector as a viable income source," he said in a press conference after opening the state-level National Youth Day Carnival here on Saturday (May 17). 'If we view the 3D sector as one that can help youths earn a living, then perhaps the state Youth Council and Youth and Sports Department can take the initiative to offer proper exposure, courses and guidance,' he added. When asked about this, Khairudin said he believed that it was a misconception that youth were not interested in the 3D sector. 'In my view, it could be that this is a new sector for them, and they may not fully understand the opportunities it presents, especially in terms of income generation and career development," he added.
The Star
05-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
3,500 expected at Selangor half marathon
Mohd Najwan (right) and Aziz Saad with some of the winners' medals. ORGANISERS are targeting 3,500 participants for Selangor Half Marathon 2025 (SHM2025), which is taking place on June 14 in Shah Alam. Selangor youth, sports and entrepreneurship committee chairman Mohd Najwan Halimi said close to 3,200 participants had signed up by April 21, with some from Australia, Brunei, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan and Singapore. The event, organised by Mohd Najwan's office and Innotex Media, will start at Dataran Kemerdekaan and feature three categories: 21km, 10km and 5km fun runs. 'This is not just a running event, but also a platform to cultivate healthy lifestyles and promote Shah Alam as a family-friendly sports tourism destination,' said Mohd Najwan, who is Kota Anggerik assemblyman. He said the 10km category includes a junior section to discover new talent. Cash prizes of over RM30,000 and more than 50 lucky draw prizes are up for grabs. Also present at the launch were Selangor Sports Council Youth Development Division deputy director Ahmad Bakrin Sofawi Abu Bakar, state Youth and Sports Department director Azura Sarbin and Innotex Media chief executive Aziz Saad. To register, visit
