Jobs matter, but identity politics may sway Melaka’s young voters

 Politicians and analysts differ on whether identity politics or a focus on jobs, wages and living costs will shape young voters' choices in the Nov 14 state election.

Syaza Shukri says pro-Malay sentiment among Malay voters and anti-government sentiment among the non-Malays may carry more weight than economic concerns in Melaka’s upcoming state polls.

PETALING JAYA:

Young voters in Melaka want better-paying jobs and affordable homes, but whether these concerns will determine how they vote on Nov 14 remains to be seen.

Masjid Tanah MP Mas Ermieyati Samsudin said the issue was not simply about creating employment, but also about ensuring young adults earn enough to raise families and build a future in the state.

The Wanita Wawasan chief said many in this voter segment were looking beyond political parties and personalities for leaders who understood the challenges they faced.

“What they are asking for is a government that understands their struggles and also takes their future seriously,” she told FMT.

Mas Ermieyati.

Mas Ermieyati urged young voters to question candidates and demand accountability, warning political parties not to treat them as mere election statistics.

Melaka has 687,697 registered voters for the state election, an increase of 192,502, or 38.9%, from 495,195 in 2021.

Electoral reform group Tindak Malaysia estimates that 35.3% of the additional voters are aged below 30.

However, International Islamic University Malaysia political analyst Syaza Shukri believes pro-Malay sentiment among Malay voters, and anti-government sentiment among the non-Malays, may carry more weight than economic concerns.

Syaza Shukri.

She said many young voters relied heavily on social media for political information but were not equipped to properly evaluate the policies put forward by the competing parties.

“Young voters still lack political awareness, and whether we like it or not, political sentiment will have a bigger influence on their votes, as seen in Johor and Negeri Sembilan,” she told FMT.

Syaza said such sentiment could influence both Malay and non-Malay voters, pointing to support for Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional in the two most recent state elections.

Despite this, Syaza acknowledged that a sizeable segment of the electorate was also looking for political stability, although their expectations have changed since the 2021 Melaka election.

At the time, many voters were looking for an administration that could manage the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic while avoiding unnecessary political upheaval and leadership changes, she said.

Today, she said, their focus is on economic growth and improving purchasing power.

Syaza said the message that a stable government could deliver economic progress had resonated with voters in Johor, and suggested it could also influence voters in Melaka.

Young voters could decide close contests

Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Sivamurugan Pandian said young voters could be key to determining the outcome in seats won by narrow margins in 2021.

Sivamurugan Pandian.

He said young people were increasingly willing to judge parties on their ability to deliver, rather than remain loyal to a particular coalition or party.

Sivamurugan said that BN would rely on its grassroots machinery to woo young voters, while Pakatan Harapan will refer to its reform agenda and an emphasis on inclusive governance.

PAS, on the other hand, will hope to attract those looking for an alternative.

However, he said it was still unclear how many registered voters lived outside Melaka and whether they would return to vote.

In 2021, BN won Serkam by just 79 votes, Pengkalan Batu by 131, and Duyong (200). - FMT