Active participation of youths in politics is not something new in the country, as we have historical records of Malay nationalists youth organizations dating as far back as WW2. The country also had youths that have participated directly in national politics since 1938 in the form of Kesatuan Melayu Muda. They went against the British, the colonialists of the country at the time. Throughout history even after the independence days, we have seen the sudden rise and sudden drop of youth participation in politics.
In recent times, again the youth of Malaysia has surpassed tremendous boundaries by accomplishing great feet, to name a few:
AUKU: The College and University Act of 1971 that once contained provisions that restricted political participation among the youths have been amended to allow political participation after increasing pressure from student organizations.
Undi18: An initiative that is led by the youth to lower the voting age in the country has been passed both in the parliament and senate although as of now it has yet to be implemented.
On top of that, we have also witnessed the youngest federal minister ever appointed since the country’s independence, YB Syed Saddiq being appointed as the Minister of Youth and Sport during Pakatan Harapan’s short-lived administration.
Albeit the successes there are also incidences involving the youths participating in politics that have been heavily criticized recently:
Alleged SOP Breaches during the #Lawan rally and also during the recent memorial of COVID-19 victims.
Alleged misappropriation/corruption charges amongst young politicians.
Controversy due to a student holding a politically charged signage in the middle of a graduation ceremony in Universiti Malaya.
The opinion of the Malaysian public on youths participating in politics is still split and it is rightly so. This is concerning considering that it is vital for Malaysian youths to have greater participation in politics and government and are also equipped with the skills and experience to take the mantle of the country’s leadership in the future. Since not all youths are created equal, it is imperative that the youths who are taking the leadership role in youth political organizations have a solid understanding of the local political landscape. Youths being inherently idealistic need to ensure that they remain grounded to reality and are sensitive to the sentiment of the mass Malaysian population.
Maturity is also another important factor that needs to make up the facet of youth political leaders. Youth organizations that are involved in politics need to ensure that they refrain from self-destructive and radicalized behavior despite the temptation to engage in such activities are highly tempting. Their future should not be gambled away for the benefit of their political ideology or masters.
A firm understanding of the law should also be a prerequisite for a young political leader planning to engage in full-scale political activities. This knowledge is especially useful when dealing with state authorities during demonstrations and protests, also when coming up with a public statement either in the news or on their social media platforms. It is concerning to see the Laissez-faire attitude of some youths who willy-nilly posts defamatory remarks online without fully understanding the potential legal repercussions of such activities.
It can be argued that the youths of today would have been better equipped to engage in political activities if they were exposed to the topic of politics at a younger age. As such introducing political education in schools is a proposal that is worth considering if Malaysia would like to see our youths not only actively participating in political activities but are doing so in a manner that is constructive and for the benefit of the nation and its people.