In every corner of the world, from bustling cities to quiet kampungs, the birth of a young man or woman brings with it two universal traits: passion and courage.
These qualities, deeply embedded in the very fabric of youth, become the cornerstone of both greatness and, at times, recklessness.
Youth is fiery by nature. In their boldness, they dare to dream - and dare even more to act, whether for right or wrong. Throughout history, whenever change knocked on the doors of society, it was the youth who answered first.
They marched, they spoke, and they often bled. Their unshakeable passion and unwavering bravery are forces that ripple through time, igniting others and stirring movements far greater than any one person.
But even fire needs fuel. And as time goes on, even the most relentless flames begin to flicker. The reality sets in: youth is temporary. The recklessness matures.
The drive finds new form - more calculated, perhaps, but no less powerful. It is at this crossroads that many youth-led movements begin to either crystallize into institutions of reform or fade into memory.
When the idealism of youth becomes action, revolutions are born. It is no surprise, then, that the greatest movements in Malaysian history have been championed by the younger generation - those who had nothing to gain, and everything to lose, but chose to act anyway.
From pre-independence student activism to reformasi rallies, from campus debates to street marches, the youth have consistently stood at the front lines, not because they seek glory, but because they could not bear the weight of silence.
Youth movements have always been fueled by a deep moral clarity - a refusal to compromise principles for power. Unlike seasoned politicians, weathered by deals and survival, youths carry with them something more valuable than influence: conscience.
Their idealism is not naive - it is necessary. Because in a world drowning in opportunism, the moral compass of the young becomes a lighthouse for the nation.
Not anti-establishment but pro-justice
It is often said that youth movements are “anti-establishment”. But that label, while popular, oversimplifies the truth. In reality, these movements are pro-justice. They are not driven by a hatred of authority, but by a desire to hold power accountable.
They rise when institutions fail, when leaders forget, and when promises break. They are not the problem - they are the response.
Indeed, the youth are the living pulse of the rakyat. Their anger is not aimless - it is born of frustration. Their resistance is not rebellion - it is responsibility.
When the powerful grow comfortable, it is the youth who shake the ground. And when they speak, their voice is not just their own - it is the echo of every forgotten citizen.
But with great passion comes great danger. In today’s landscape, the youth are no longer just resisting outdated regimes - they are also rejecting opportunity politics.
This term, now tainted with the stench of betrayal, describes a breed of politics hollowed out by self-interest, fueled by slander, division, and manipulation. It is precisely this brand of politics that the youth now refuse to inherit.
What they demand instead is a political culture rooted in values. One where integrity outweighs ambition, where service supersedes self, and where the rakyat are not pawns but partners. In rejecting toxic politics, youth are not opting out - they are rewriting the rules.
And make no mistake: the rulers know it. Every footstep of the young echoes louder than ever before. Every movement they lead sends tremors up the spines of those clinging to power. Because they understand the truth - that when the youth rise, nations change.
The challenge, therefore, is not in questioning whether the youth should lead. The real question is whether the current generation of leaders is willing to listen, to share the reins, and to make space for a future that may not include them.
The clock does not tick backwards. And as the spirit of the youth continues to evolve - from raw energy to refined impact - those who ignore it do so at their own peril.
The fire within the youth is not something to fear - it is something to fuel. For in that fire lies the future of this nation. - Mkini
MAHATHIR MOHD RAIS is a former Federal Territories Bersatu and Perikatan Nasional secretary.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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