The 13th General Elections will see 2.3 million out of 13.3 million Malaysians coming out to vote for the first time. Malaysia is a young country with more than half of all citizens under the age of 30.
Malaysian youth are therefore big stakeholders in this country. They must be taken seriously and respectfully as partners in the building of this country.
We need to completely reform the way we engage our youth and Keadilan reiterates the offer of a Youth Partnership Initiative. The YPI is a roadmap for energising and engaging youth in the democratic governance so that together we build a Better Malaysia for All Malaysians.
Politics
> Lowering the Voting Age and Automatic Voter Registration
Malaysian youth must have a political voice. The young deserve to have the right to choose their leaders. Respect begins by making sure the young can vote. By lowering the voting age to 18, we will be allowing youth to participate and be represented in Malaysia’s democratic processes.
Over the past few decades developing democracies of the world have shifted from the voting age of 21 to 18. Thais, Filipinos and Myanmar can vote at 18. Indonesians can vote at 17. Now it should be Malaysia’s turn.
For 56 years the Barisan Nasional has feared, talked down, indoctrinated and restricted our youth in schools, universities and colleges. Everything has been done to ensure that they cannot think for themselves and are compliant. This will change when they are given a political voice.
At the moment, young people are being registered without their knowledge. Automatic voter registration will ensure that youth are included in the democratic process. But first electoral rolls must be thoroughly cleaned so that they are fully representative and credible.
> Empowerment: Campus Elections Managed by Students
KEADILAN commits that campus elections of student leaders will be conducted free of the restrictions and blatant manipulation by the authorities that we have seen. Young people should be allowed to make decisions on, and take responsibility for, how they are organized and who represents them in these centres of learning. This will prepare them for the future.
Education & Employment
> PTPTN – Free Education
Every Malaysian citizen must have equal opportunities and access to education - from pre-school right up to the tertiary level – free of charge. Our nation is rich in natural resources and it is imperative that we invest in our people. Our revenue should be spent on enriching our young, not on enriching the pockets of politically-connected individuals in power. We must mandate a specific percentage of our natural resources-based revenues for education and work to ensure that these resources are spent on students.
> Youth Unemployment, Underemployment and Unemployability
Youth unemployment, under-employment and unemployability impose a heavy cost to this nation. Youth unemployment stands at 11% nationally. It makes up 60 per cent of total unemployment or 6.6 times higher than the adult unemployment rate. Youth unemployment figures are much higher in East Malaysia. There are 76,000 unemployed graduates but many more who have only managed to find temporary low-paying jobs. And every year this number increases.
Years of BN neglect and complicity must be addressed and we propose substantive measures to help mitigate youth unemployment and underemployment for all, irrespective of race, religion or political persuasion.
> Expanding Technical and Vocational Training
We will greatly increase the scope and effectiveness of our vocational and technical colleges and the programmes they offer. We will ensure that these programmes are not the ‘neglected option’ by linking them to vibrant industries both at home and abroad. We will ensure that standards of technical certification are sufficiently high so that the question of finding a job does not arise.
> Expanding Re-skilling and Multi-skilling Opportunities
We will encourage re-skilling and multi-skilling by listening and responding to industry demands so as to ensure that our youth are employable. We will develop new, more flexible and effective delivery options so that downtime is limited and costs are kept down. In this way, our youth will be able to have multiple skills and be multiply productive.
> Expanding Entrepreneurship
We will promote entrepreneur development in a way and on a scale that has never attempted before. We will promote an entire eco-system, from business incubation and start-ups to technology adoption and business up-scaling. We will revamp the financing system for SMEs.
Social and Community Development
> Revamping the National Service
The National Service (PLKN) requires serious review and reform. Academic studies have found that the PLKN has had lackluster success in forging greater unity and improving moral character while lacking in safety.
Measures include:-
> Realigning the program towards fostering real national unity and greater awareness on the rights and responsibilities of citizens in building a better democracy.
> Conducting more open audits to ensure the safety, health, and security of the NS trainees. Selected and qualified members from the public will be put into a council to audit and investigate any untoward incidents that may occur.
> Diversifying the modules to include social activism and community engagements skills.
> Youth Participation in Decision-Making
As a stakeholder in nation building, youth participation in decision-making is a valuable and essential element.
> A National Youth Advisory Council will be formed to achieve the stated purpose that will be given a real voice in government. Youth Advisory Councils elected by the youth must be mandated to be part of Federal, State and Local governments providing a platform for meaningful involvement and advocacy of youth rights and aspirations.
In short, the Malaysia of tomorrow must be forged in the hearts and minds of its youth today.
This Youth Partnership Initiative is the first, important step in the real transformation of the country. It will be a key engine to drive us towards a better Malaysia.
Nurul Izzah Anwar is vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat
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