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3 July 2019
In the new challenging democracy in Malaysia, the role of youth is of special importance, and the world today there are more new than established democracies. Older generations of a society include leaders from the discredited undemocratic regime and many who supported, or at least tolerated it as likely to last their lifetime or because they saw no way of opposing it.
Younger generations are faced with the challenge of creating stability in the place of the chronic instability of the past. Young adults can be seen as having distinctive political interests, more inclined to change than older generations, more idealistic in their goals and less loyal to established traditions such like what that have been practice in UMNO.
Age has no overall relation with the most significant measures of democratic involvement satisfaction with democracy, the rejection of undemocratic alternatives, and interest in politics. To improve youth political participation, parties need to take more deliberate action to encourage their youth members to take centre stage.
A new culture must be adopted to create an environment which extend inclusiveness to the young, instead of an exclusiveness among the old. Older party members must be reminded of the reasons for the party’s founding and existence, that is serve Malaysia and not their personal interest. If a better candidate exists, regardless of age, who can represent and serve the needs of society, it is best to make way.
The lack of such a culture and mind-set is perhaps why many evidently incompetent politicians end up in high office due to the fact they have been given the preference of age and loyalty over brains and competency.
Malaysia needs more young politicians to represent the upcoming needs of the youth majority, particularly when youth unemployment is showing no signs of improving.
The youth have proven more than capable of handling their own with the same if not better levels of capability to their seasoned political colleagues. With this as the primary benchmark, it is ultimately up to the member of the party to decide who they wish to give the mandate as their leader.
Mahathir Mohd Rais
National Youth Exco
Division Chief Segambut
PARTI PRIBUMI BERSATU MALAYSIA
