On July 16, 2019, Malaysia’s Lower House of Parliament, the Dewan Rakyat, created history by passing an amendment to the Federal Constitution to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.
The Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019 was passed after unanimous support was given by both sides of the political divide, marking the first time a bill received multi-partisan support in Pakatan Harapan’s administration.
All 211 MPs present voted for the amendment, far more than the two-thirds majority (148 votes) needed to pass any constitutional amendment in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.
Besides the lowering of the voting age, the amendment also included provisions for automated voter registration and the lowering of the minimum age to stand in elections, in accordance with the new voting age.
By GE15, which is supposed to be held the latest in 2023, estimates by the government expect some 7.8 million new voters will be added into the electoral roll through this constitutional amendment. With this amendment, the Pakatan Harapan government has fulfilled a major component of its election manifesto.
Malaysia’s democracy will now have more fresh blood in it. The Digital Parliament programme, held by various youth advocacy groups in response to the one-day Dewan Rakyat sitting on May 18, has shown that our youth are more than ready to step into the world of politics.
At the digital session, 222 youths representing their constituencies talked about policies for the country and gave very good input and suggestions. These youths did it with the highest level of maturity and utmost respect for one another, regardless of opposing views.
They have proven that a virtual Parliament sitting is possible, something that certain government MPs who have refused to hold a virtual Parliament sitting should take heed of.
The first day of the Parliament session of July had shown us the worst forms of conduct by the MPs in our short history as an independent nation. Racist and sexist remarks were thrown about like candy, without any thought of remorse.
Name-calling was prevalent, and so was shouting and blatant accusations. Both the government and opposition had MPs who showed no respect for this sacred institution of our beloved country. Do we want MPs who are unable to show even the most basic of decorum to represent us?
With the lowering of the voting age, the youth now have an opportunity for their voice to be heard. It is time for them to invoke change in our society and political system that has for far too long spiralled into an abyss.
Now, the youth have the power to choose the representatives whose sole purpose is to make Malaysia a better place. Many of our current representatives are only interested in fame, power and the ability to fill up their ever-so deep pockets.
They have forgotten the values and responsibilities of a proper representative of the people.
Opportunity for a new brand of politics
When the youth are able to stand in elections, there is an opportunity for the older brand of politics that most of us are used to, yet sick of, to be replaced with a new brand of politics.
The days of money politics, dirty politics, mudslinging and race-based politicking will be something of the past, removed either wholly or substantially from our political system. With this change, our chosen representatives will now be focused on the people’s welfare, instead of engaging in constant politicking.
Bread and butter issues like the economy, people’s welfare and so on will still be under the microscope of this new generation of politicians, and what’s immensely different is the style in which it is looked at.
More progressive and innovative ideas will be brought up by the youth, who for all this while have remained quiet, but have been mindfully observing from the sidelines.
The youth have their own vision for the country, and by providing them with this opportunity, we are now one step closer to seeing their vision of a better Malaysia come to life.
Even with the current state of political affairs in Malaysia, there has been a youth-orientated change in politics all across the globe. Finland elected its youngest ever Prime Minister, Sanna Marin, at the age of 34.
Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz was elected into office at the age of 30. Scotland’s youngest ever MP, Mhairi Black, was elected at the age of 20.
These examples from around the world prove that a wave of change in politics is happening. The youth of the world are now being given the chances to prove themselves as leaders of tomorrow.
It cannot be said that Malaysia has not given any chance to the youth. During GE14, history was made when the constituency of Batu in Wilayah Persekutuan elected Malaysia’s youngest ever MP.
P Prabakaran (above) was 22 years and three months old when he won the seat with a 24,438-vote majority, breaking the 42-year-old record previously held by Najib Abdul Razak at the age of 22 years and seven months.
Shortly after, Malaysia created history again when Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman was chosen to become the minister of youth and sports at the age of 25 years. He has been the youngest-ever minister appointed to Malaysia’s cabinet.
The average age of Malaysian MPs is 55.5 years, while the average age of Malaysia’s population is 30.3 years.
Seeing this disparity, Syed Saddiq established a youth-centric political party, Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda). Malaysian youths now have an even better chance at establishing a name for themselves in Malaysian politics with this party.
However, it has yet to be seen whether Muda can emulate the success of two youth-centric parties, namely Thailand’s defunct Future Forward party led by former Thai MP Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, and France’s La Republique en Marche, which ended up winning elections and forming the federal government with French President Emmanuel Macron at the helm.
Even with the elections of two very young MPs during GE14, Malaysia still has a long way to go for youth representation in Parliament, as these two MPs are the only MPs aged 30 and below in Parliament.
It is a good first step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to provide opportunities for the youth to rise in our political landscape.
Malaysian youth themselves also have to realise that with the lowering of the voting age, they now have the power to incite change for the betterment and future of the country. Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, famously said: "Give me 1,000 old men, I’ll move the mountain. Give me 10 young men, I’ll shake the world."
It is now or never for the youth to stand up for what they believe in.
JOSHUA TOH is a student at Inti International College Penang. - Mkini
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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