R.AGE (The Star), 22 November 2016: 'Helping Young Malaysians Pioneer Social Projects'

Contrary to the advice of many popular listicles, the solution to your lack of personal fulfilment may not be to quit your job and travel the world.
​
As a bold new generation of Malaysians is realising, having both a high-flying career and helping out in the local community is providing a level of satisfaction higher than lugging a backpack across South America.

...

Here at the Kuala Lumpur Hub, there are a number of successful social projects in progress. The Global Shapers Speakers Series (SSS) for example, hosts public forums to discuss global issues and how they relate to Malaysians.

“Our awareness of Asean in Malaysia is amongst the lowest of all member states,” said Global Shaper Zaim Mohzani, 26, co-founder of NGO Nation Building School. He came up with the idea for SSS to address this ambivalent attitude towards global and regional politics.

“As Malaysians, we need a shift in mentality,” he says. “We’re very inward looking and most of us don’t know much about foreign affairs and policy.

“If we’re going to keep up with the world and find our place in it, we need to start thinking about and engaging with these big issues. That’s what SSS gives people a chance to do.”
​
Read the full article at http://rage.com.my/global-shapers/

Represented Global Shapers Kuala Lumpur during a session with Singapore International Foundation's Young Social Entrepreneurs (YSE) 2016 programme participants.

Alongside Global Shapers KL Curator Lorraine Siew, we talked about Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by United Nations and importance of having a global perspective on prospective social entrepreneurs' future ventures. Many thanks to Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur and Singapore International Foundation for inviting us.

For more pictures, please visit ​https://www.sif.org.sg/photos/yse-2016-study-visit-to-kuala-lumpur

KOSMO! 6 Mac 2016

​TATKALA mendapat tahu mengenai sebuah organisasi belia yang baru ditubuhkan menganjurkan program, Lim Weng Marc, 28, pada mulanya berfikiran skeptikal.

Pada hematnya, program yang dianjurkan oleh organisasi yang dikenali sebagai Nation Building School semestinya sama seperti organisasi belia yang lain.

Weng Marc mengambil keputusan untuk menghadiri program pertama pada tahun lalu yang mengetengahkan topik Young Malaysians and Our Future: Looking Beyond 2020.

Ternyata sangkaan Weng Marc meleset setelah menghadiri program tersebut di samping mendapati ia bukan seperti program-program belia yang biasa.

“Selepas menghadiri program pertama, saya tekad untuk menyertai Nation Building School dengan menjadi ahlinya,” katanya ketika ditemui Kosmo! di Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini.

Weng Marc menjelaskan, program-program yang diadakan banyak membuka matanya dan memberi inspirasi supaya menjadi seseorang yang berkaliber suatu hari nanti.

“Terdapat beberapa program yang menarik perhatian saya seperti The Story: Raja Singham. Figura tersebut, Raja Singham merupakan seorang pensyarah dan pengarah urusan di Kolej Asia Brickfields.

“Dalam segmen tersebut, beliau banyak menceritakan pengalaman dan cabaran yang dihadapi ketika membuka sekolah sewaktu zaman remaja.

“Program-program seumpamanya bukan sahaja memberi inspirasi kepada golongan belia bahkan mencetuskan idea dalam melakukan sesuatu projek nanti,” ulasnya.

Selain itu, program yang dianjurkan oleh Nation Building School memberi peluang kepada belia untuk berinteraksi dengan tetamu daripada pelbagai industri.

“Jika dulu saya tidak kenal sesiapa namun kini, saya mempunyai banyak rangkaian daripada pelbagai industri seperti teknologi, kesenian dan bisnes,” tuturnya.

Artikel Penuh: http://www.kosmo.com.my/kosmo/content.asp?y=2016&dt=0307&pub=Kosmo&sec=GenK&pg=gk_01.htm#ixzz4oEquBDnd 

Malay Mail, March 5 2016 'Moving Forward Together'

The article features Hannah Kam and myself as Vice-Presidents of Organisation for National Empowerment (ONE) talking about the need for youth engagement on social issues in Malaysia.

The Star newspaper, 20th November 2014

PETALING JAYA: Youths are calling on fellow young Malaysians to defend the country’s moderate stance in facing all social ills afflicting the nation.


“Ultimately, young people must know that the future of this great nation lies in their hands,” said 24-year-old Zaim Mohzani, a Bachelor of Arts graduate in political science and international relations.


The young community manager at a tech start-up company, who is a member of Toastmasters International and newly formed Organisation for National Recon­ciliation (ONE), among others, believes that apathy is among the biggest obstacles to moderation as people feel they cannot do much.


“The greatest injustice is surrendering our ability to make change to the politicians.


“It’s high time the silent majority stands up and speaks out. At the end of the day, it’s the rakyat who charts the course for Malaysia,” said Zaim, a former Perdana Fellows Programme participant.


By bringing people together, he said, there can be exchanges of views and ideas to foster moderation.


“The youths can promote moderation if they self-organise at the grassroots level to address local issues such as crime and dengue.


“Self-organising can be anything from gootng-royong to visiting old folks homes,” added Zaim.

Read more at http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2014/11/20/defend-countrys-moderate-stance-the-future-of-this-great-nation-lies-in-your-hands-young-malaysians

The Star (newspaper), 22 May 2014: 'Perdana Fellowship offers youth the chance to intern with Ministers'

​PETALING JAYA: The  Perdana Fellowship this year opens its doors again to ambitious youth around the nation, to make a difference in  the nation under the guidance of Cabinet Ministers around Malaysia. 

In an attempt to breach the gap between the government and the youth, and to give a stronger platform for Generation-Y, the Malaysian Government has started the Perdana fellowship

This internship program, in following the footsteps of the White House, which can range from a minimum of six weeks up to six months, allows youngsters to be working under cabinet ministers and get an insight on how the government operates on a day-to-day basis.

Fellowship Alumni President, Zaim Mohzani who was a under the Minister of Plantation Industries & Commodities explained that not many countries would open up an avenue for naive idealistic youth to have a say in the government.

Malay Mail Online

KUALA LUMPUR, April 5 — A group of Malaysian overseas graduates proposed today trading off some Malay rights in exchange for a better acceptance of Malay culture among the country’s other ethnic communities, saying this would help the country stay united and move forward.
The graduates, who were speaking at a unity forum here, said relinquishing these privileges would also help create and strengthen Malaysia’s unique identity as a multi-racial, multi-religious country.

Read full article at http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/surrender-malay-rights-to-preserve-national-unity-overseas-grads-suggest

You can listen to my radio interview on ABC Australia here.

I was interviewed by Liam Cochrane on the Malaysian government's decision to amend Section 15 of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 to allow students to participate in politics.