KUALA LUMPUR: A Negeri Sembilan prince has urged Malaysian youths to continue preserving democracy, saying the alternatives are “too dire to contemplate”.
Tunku Zain Al-Abidin Tuanku Muhriz said if democracy was not conserved, different regime styles like autocracy or authoritarianism would present themselves.
“This will then allow the state to silence any opposition,” he said during his speech at the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Malaysia Summit.
He added that elements of theocracy could also arise with religious justifications made to implement certain policies or laws.
“This could then lead to racism. We know how racial rhetoric can and will be easily exploited to mobilise people on an ethnic basis,” he said.
Tunku Zain, who is also the founding president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), said there would also be a huge concentration of power which would enable and normalise corruption.
He stressed the importance of saving the nation’s democracy and called on youths to be more innovative and proactive in strengthening democracy through civic engagement.
“We have seen this in times of hardship and disaster when Malaysian youths have come together, be it during the floods or during the pandemic, to realise change,” he said.
The event was also attended by the US ambassador to Malaysia, Brian McFeeters, who highlighted the importance of youth diplomacy.
He shared success stories of YSEALI alumni and remarked on the positive impact the initiative has had on participants from Malaysia.
“Over the past nine years, YSEALI has been a powerful platform that has demonstrated the power of youth exchanges to foster positive change.” - FMT
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