Aptly closing 2025 with the Johor Youth Forum

 

In early November, Nada Mohammed, Director of Operations of Johor Youth Forum, wrote to introduce me to AIESEC, its Johor chapter and organiser of the Johor Youth Forum 2025, and invited me to participate as a PowerTalk speaker in this event.

 

Group shot at the Opening of Johor Youth Forum 2025
 on Day One of the two-day event

AIESEC is a global youth-led organization that develops leadership potential through international internships and volunteer programs.

 

Founded in 1948, it operates in over 110 countries and territories as a non-governmental, non-profit platform run entirely by students and recent graduates of institutions of higher education.

 

AIESEC (pronounced eye-sek) was originally an acronym for Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales. Now AIESEC is no longer used as an acronym but simply as the name of the organization.

 

Engaging the participants with
My Johor Stories presented in,
Johor in a Bygone Era

The Johor Youth Forum (JYF) is an event initiative that aspires to connect Johor youth and introduce concepts of youth leadership to nurture leaders of the future.

 

It is a youth development platform that brings together university youth, corporate partners and government agencies to inspire leadership and collaboration towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

The forum features panel discussions, workshops and networking sessions designed to equip youth with the knowledge and confidence to create meaningful impact in their communities.

 

Through this initiative, the JYF aims to empower young Johoreans to take an active role in shaping the future of the state, aligning with the vision of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ) in nurturing youth talent and driving sustainable development.

 

Receiving a Certificate of 
Appreciation from the organisers

The target participants will be made up of 18 to 28-year-old university students from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), University of Southampton Malaysia (UoSM), Newcastle University Medicine Malaysia (NuMED), Raffles University Iskandar, University of Reading Malaysia, Southern University College and NGOs like the Junior Chamber International (JCI), Rotaract Clubs, Lions/Leos Clubs and Toastmasters.

 

As I read through their ambitious and interesting proposal for the JYF, I gave serious consideration to their invitation to present a PowerTalk on, The Past of Johor.

 

This PowerTalk aimed to bring participants on a journey through Johor’s vibrant past — exploring its royal legacy, multicultural heritage and the stories that have shaped the state’s identity today – to inspire youths to appreciate the importance of history in building pride, a sense of belonging and a vision for the future.

 

Another group shot after my presentation

This was a familiar topic for the Johor Storyteller (me!) and when I gave favourable consideration to their invitation, I replied Nada with a suggestion to amend the title of my Talk to, Johor in a Bygone Era.

 

She replied with further details of the JYF, a two-day event hosted at the Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre (TMIYC) in Iskandar Puteri, with my PowerTalk scheduled in the first session on Day One.

 

And during the networking session in the afternoon of Day Two, My Johor Stories had a pop-up store for participants to buy copies of My Johor Stories 3: Proudly Johor, Then and Now, the third and final instalment that completed the trilogy of My Johor Stories.

 

With Zareef Zidane [Centre]
and his girlfriend

It was close to the end of the two-day event that Nada told me that she saw my 2019 TEDx Talk on the topic, Connecting People through My Johor Stories, on the YouTube channel and was convinced that they should invite me to speak at the JYF.

 

I was/am deeply honoured and humbled by this opportunity to speak to young people with the aim to inspire them, strengthen their morale and confidence by providing clarity about Johor’s past and encourage leadership and participation in local development for the future.

 

To me, participating in the JYF 2025 was the best way to end my eventful year.

 

On my arrival at the venue on Day One, I was welcomed in by Philip Yu Yang Yii, Youth Speak Forum Partnership Manager of AIESEC in Johor Bahru. Then, Head of Youth Leadership Programme, AIESEC in Johor Bahru, Hwong Zi Ru, made sure I was comfortable and helped me with the technical set-up for my presentation.

 

With Lee Wai Ming [Centre]
and his college mate

As I shared insights on the topic, Johor in a Bygone Era, it was my pleasure and privilege to engage and interact with the participants. By a show of hands, I could ascertain that there was a mix of non-Johorean and foreign students among the Johoreans gathered in the hall to hear me speak.

 

I was pleased to keep the young people engaged with interesting visuals and exciting commentary for them to gain a clearer understanding of Johor’s pride and vision for economic, social and sustainability progress, its historical journey and key moments that shaped its identity.

 

I had much fun as I demonstrated the role of storytelling and heritage in preserving community pride and showing them how understanding the past can guide them in shaping Johor’s future.

 

With Ashman Fauzi

And it was good to receive feedback comments from the participants when we met again on Day Two of the event.

 

Among the first to approach me at my pop-up store for My Johor Stories was Zareef Zidane, an undergrad with the University of Reading Malaysia, whose encouraging comments reaffirmed my decision to participate in the JYF 2025.

 

Zareef, a fellow Johorean who was brought up with the knowledge of Johor culture and heritage, was pleased to hear me speak about the strong relationship established by the Johor rulers with the community in Johor, a special bond between Malay landowners and Chinese planters which undergirds the unique rapport and concept we live by dubbed as, Bangsa Johor.

 

With Ariq Fathyan

Meanwhile Ashman Fauzi, an undergrad with Universiti Sains Malaysia, who hails from Pontian, told me that he was also proud of the timeless elegance of Johor’s traditional costume in the Baju Melayu Telok Blangah.

 

I recalled noticing his response (in the audience!) when I discussed its royal origin and highlighted the unique features of this traditional Malay costume, in particular about the hand-sewn tulang belut stitches on the collar of the men’s shirt.

 

It was interesting that the foreign students who approached me for a chat included those from Bangladesh, Sudan, East Africa and Acheh in Indonesia.

 

When Ariq Fathyan, an undergrad with Universiti Teknologi Malaysia who hails from Acheh, came over for a chat, I was much encouraged by his enthusiasm.

 

With Jun Kit [Left] and Elaine Kwan of
DayOne, the event's corporate partner

He declared that, “When we study our roots, we cannot go wrong…” and went on to say that he was inspired to do what I have done for Johor, and he will do likewise to document stories about his own hometown, for posterity.

 

In addition to Johoreans and foreign students who stopped by to chat with me about My Johor Stories, undergrads from other states like Sabah, Ipoh and Terengganu, did so too. Some adults who represented other partners who participated in the JYF, were also keen to discover more about Johor from my books.

 

I appreciate the invitation from AIESEC in Johor Bahru for the opportunity to inspire and encourage young people with my talk on, Johor in a Bygone Era, and am deeply encouraged by my experience with the Johor Youth Forum 2025, that aptly closes a very eventful year for me.

 

Note: My Johor Stories books are available for sale from MPH bookstores nationwide and online from mphonline. While all the MPH bookstores in Johor Bahru have closed, some My Johor Stories books are available for sale at JARO or Johor Area Rehabilitation Organisation, Johor Bahru.