Penang Gerakan Youth Oh Tong Keong said today that there should be concerted effort to encourage young people to excel in their respective field based on merits, be in business or profession.

Oh said giving encouragement and providing opportunities to youths based on merits is good for the development of the nation and the people.

Thus, he said the selection criteria in approving applicants for any youth development programs or awarding projects should be transparent and accountable, based on merits and not along racial line.

Oh was commenting on the award of a RM1mil project to a 19-year-old part time college student by the Penang government.

Wanita MCA deputy secretary-general Tan Cheng Liang had claimed that the bumiputra student was awarded the project to construct a double-storey religious school in Batu Maung which has since been completed. The student was also awarded a cleaning contract by the Seberang Prai Municipal Council.

Tan claimed that the project was among 968 worth RM125mil awarded by the state government since 2008 under the open tender system. She questioned the state government’s transparency in awarding the contracts. “Only 0.2% of the projects were given to non-bumiputras,” she said.

Oh urged the state government to be transparent and tell the public how the contracts were awarded according to the open tender system.

“If a youngster is successful, let the people know about his success, tell the story so that others can emulate his example,” Oh added.