The Surprise Comeback: UNAM Youth Assembly Conference (13/6/2020-14/6/2020)

On 8 September 2019, I marked my final journey in the Model United Nations (MUN) scene and went into "retirement" to focus on my university studies. The first question you might ask "Are you completely cut off from the Malaysian UN scene?" My answer was no, I would be involved in UN-related activities but coming back to the scene, it was a mystery. 

Due to the coronavirus, the mass gatherings are strictly a no-no, everything is taken online. Delegates, may I present to you the Youth Assembly Conference (YCA) organised by United Nations Association Malaysia (UNAM) Youth! A week before the event, we had a pre-conference online workshop. Fresh out of retirement after nine months, some of the details need to be refreshed especially on the consultation of the whole. 

The day of the conference has come, I log on to the Discord app to attend the very first virtual MUN of the year. We have a keynote opening speech, from the UNAM Youth president, Rehan. Delegates have to "move" to "meeting room 1" for the conference. In the physical MUN, we are usually assigned to a country that we are representing, make an opening speech and state on the country's policies, what can delegates hope for the outcome at the end of the conference. 

  Similarly to physical MUN, but this time we are representing ourselves as Malaysia's youths on how can we help the Rohingya refugees despite facing the COVID-19 pandemic. We focus on issues such as education, work permits, healthcare etc. I work alongside newcomers on the MUN scene, and some of them ask me what advice I could give to newcomers? I don't have much to give but all I could say is observe and listen to what other delegates might present during the debate, if we have a strong point, fight it back diplomatically. 

At the end of the first day, we created a group to discuss further on the topic. The second and final day, we spent an hour on how to make our points stronger. The debate is firing up with more passion as compared to the first day. I bring up a motion on "Xenophobic behaviour towards refugees in Malaysia" but it failed. Never mind, we have other topics to discuss on. We "failed" the model resolution. 

UNAM Youth is honoured to invite to Mr John and Mr Islam on their views on the Rohingya refugees, as well as from our UNAM Youth president himself, Rehan. We end the day by playing a game on Jackbox TV, but I preferred Kahoot! Although this virtual MUN is amazing, I'm hoping to come back to the physical Model United Nations anytime soon when this pandemic is over. 

This is Kar Marn, delegate of Youth Assembly, signing off!