From understanding their legal rights to exploring future careers, 250 young people came together at Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET) for the Konvensyen Aspirasi Belia Perak 2026, held on 5 September 2026.
Co-organised by UniKL MIMET and Dewan Belia Perak, with support from the Student Development and Campus Lifestyle (SDCL) unit and Student Representative Council (SRC) MIMET 2026, the convention brought together university students, youth representatives, legal practitioners, maritime volunteers and state-linked industries.
The programme focused on three areas increasingly relevant to young Malaysians, namely legal literacy, civic volunteerism and career preparedness.
Participants included UniKL MIMET undergraduates as well as representatives and students from Dewan Belia Perak, Universiti Kuala Lumpur Royal College of Medicine Perak (UniKL RCMP), Pasukan Simpanan Sukarelawan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (PSSTLDM) and other participating organisations.
The convention was officiated by YB Dato’ Haji Mohd Zolkafly Harun, Chairman of the Perak State Committee for Rural Development, Plantations, Agriculture and Food Industry.
He was joined by Ts. Dr. Zaimi Zainal Mukhtar, Dean of UniKL MIMET, alongside representatives from Dewan Belia Perak, the Perak Bar Committee, PSSTLDM and Perak state-owned enterprises.
The programme began with a leadership briefing introducing participants to youth governance platforms including Dewan Belia Perak and Parlimen Belia Malaysia, encouraging greater participation by young people in civic and legislative processes.
This was followed by the panel session “Sinergi Sivil: Jiwa Kesukarelawanan & Celik Perundangan”, featuring Mr. Mohd Zulzarif Mohd Zakuan of the Perak Bar Committee and Commander Mohd Nazri Sharif of PSSTLDM.
One of the convention’s more thought-provoking moments came when Mr. Mohd Zulzarif reflected on his journey as a lawyer and the experiences that shaped his understanding of the profession.
Drawing from a past case, he highlighted how an apparently straightforward legal matter could have far-reaching consequences when an individual became exposed to intense public attention and judgement online.
His reflection underscored an important message for the young audience: legal practice is not simply about understanding legislation or presenting arguments in court, but also about recognising the circumstances and dignity of the individual behind a case.
Beyond the panel session, final-year students were able to explore internship, employment and career-development opportunities, including engagement with organisations in the engineering and maritime sectors such as Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS).
Meanwhile, an outdoor PSSTLDM static display introduced participants to maritime volunteer service and the values of discipline, resilience, teamwork and patriotism.
For UniKL MIMET, the initiative strengthens its role beyond maritime and engineering education.
The initiative also supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 4: Quality Education through inclusive learning and skills development; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through graduate employability and career exposure; and SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions through legal literacy and civic participation.
