Tag: politics

Are Malaysian Youth Still Interested in Politics?

Not too long ago, politics in Malaysia felt like something distant for many young people. It was often viewed as a conversation reserved for older generations — something discussed passionately at coffee shops, ceramah stages, or family dinner tables while the youth simply listened from the sidelines. But things have changed. Today, Malaysian youths are more exposed to politics than ever before. They see political debates on TikTok, breaking news on X, government announcements on Instagram, and public criticism circulating through WhatsApp groups almost every day. Politics is no longer confined to Parliament or television screens. It lives on their phones, appears on their timelines, and quietly shapes their future whether they like it or not. Yet despite this constant exposure, a growing question remains: Are Malaysian youths truly interested in politics anymore, or are they simply tired of it? The answer is probably somewhere in between. Many young Malaysians still care deeply about issues affecting the country. They talk about the rising cost of living, unemployment, corruption, education quality, housing affordability, and mental health struggles. These are political issues, even if they are not always discussed in political language. The younger generation wants change, fairness, and opportunities. The problem is that many no longer believe politics alone can deliver those promises. Years of political instability, changing governments, endless arguments between politicians, and repeated public disappointments have created fatigue among the youth. Some who once felt hopeful now feel disconnected. They see politicians attacking one another online while ordinary Malaysians continue struggling with daily expenses and uncertain futures. Over time, this creates cynicism. For many youths, politics now feels noisy rather than meaningful. At the same time, it would be unfair to label Malaysian youths as apathetic. The younger generation expresses political opinions differently compared to previous generations. They may not attend ceramah every week or wave party flags on the streets, but they speak through social media campaigns, online discussions, podcasts, memes, and digital activism. Some support causes rather than political parties. Others focus more on policies than personalities. This shift is important to understand. Young Malaysians today are less interested in blind loyalty toward politicians. They are more likely to question leaders openly regardless of political affiliation. Respect is no longer automatically given based on title or seniority. Instead, many youths judge leaders based on transparency, communication, and whether they genuinely understand rakyat issues. The implementation of Undi18 also changed the political landscape significantly. Suddenly, millions of younger voters became part of the democratic process. Political parties rushed to attract youth attention through social media strategies and youth-friendly campaigns. However, attracting young voters online is one thing; maintaining their trust is another challenge entirely. Many youths are now politically aware but emotionally detached. They follow issues closely, yet hesitate to fully believe in any political figure. This may explain why political enthusiasm among youths often appears inconsistent. One moment they are vocal online, the next they withdraw completely from political conversations. Perhaps this is not because the youth have lost interest in politics, but because they are still searching for reasons to trust it again. There is also a deeper reality many older generations sometimes overlook. Young Malaysians today are growing up in a far more financially and emotionally demanding environment. Many are worried about stable jobs, affordable homes, student debt, career pressure, and even whether they can build a comfortable future in the country. Politics matters to them, but survival often comes first. Still, dismissing the youth as “lazy voters” or “politically ignorant” would be a mistake. Malaysian youths are watching closely. They are observing how leaders behave, how policies are implemented, and whether promises actually translate into action. They may not always speak loudly, but that does not mean they are not paying attention. In many ways, the future of Malaysian politics may depend less on whether youths are interested in politics, and more on whether politics is still interested in genuinely serving the youth. Because trust, once lost, is difficult to rebuild. -- MINUTESMY / SUGAN BALAN

Not too long ago, politics in Malaysia felt like something distant for many young people. It was often viewed as a conversation reserved for older generations — something discussed passionately at coffee shops, ceramah stages, or family dinner tables while the youth simply listened from the sidelines. But things have changed. Today, Malaysian youths are […]

Unity Government focuses on maintaining political stability, people’s welfare

SEREMBAN: The Unity Government will continue to focus on three main thrusts, namely maintaining political stability, driving economic prosperity and safeguarding the welfare of the people, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) Secretary-General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said this principle is also the basis of unification in the Unity Government and has been proven in its implementation over the past three years. "This government was formed based on mutual trust and respect. These two political values, trust and respect, are why I am impressed with Tok Min (Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun) who managed to maintain his victory in Negeri Sembilan and govern successfully," he said when speaking at the PH Main Leadership Inaugural Lecture here last night. Also present were Aminuddin, who is also the Negeri Sembilan PH chairman, Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke. Saifuddin Nasution said he also has confidence in the continuity of the current leadership, with the current term remaining for less than two years. "We place strong confidence in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, we want him to continue for the remaining term and if asked what PH's direction is, we want to strive to govern for a second term and Anwar to lead as Prime Minister for a second term." "Our direction is very clear and that must start with Negeri Sembilan, we continue to build strength and Tok Min will continue to lead with excellence," he said. At the same time, Saifuddin Nasution said priority would continue to be given to the welfare of the people and the continuity of economic policies in facing current global challenges. "...the world is currently facing a crisis, whatever their target, the situation is causing us to face an energy crisis...we meet every week in the Economic Action Council, there is no other way. We promise the people, we will defend the people's welfare and economic stability," he said. Meanwhile, Loke stressed the importance of political consensus between parties in the government as the main basis to ensure that the stability of state and federal administration is maintained. Commenting on the recent political situation in Negeri Sembilan, he said there were several important lessons for leaders, including the need to remain calm and act rationally in the face of crises. Anthony, who is also the Chennah State Assemblyman (ADUN), assured that all 17 PH assemblymen in Negeri Sembilan would remain united and support the existing leadership to continue the mandate to the people. "We want the state to be stable so that the country is also stable. This is important to ensure that the administration of the Federal Government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar can continue," he said, urging all elected representatives and party machinery to continue to focus on their respective duties, especially in resolving the people's issues and ensuring that the administration runs smoothly. Meanwhile, Aminuddin said his party would continue to provide commitment in ensuring that the state government's development and economy were on a stable, structured and continuous path for the well-being of the people. He said that despite the political crisis in the state, the state government's priority was to ensure that the welfare of the people was always maintained, including paying attention to aspects of education, economic stability and efforts to attract more investment. "We want this state to continue to progress, we want this state to continue to run well, we want the children who are studying to continue to be taken care of... the state government needs to take proactive steps to ensure the economy continues to grow and the people are not burdened, in fact today there are companies coming to invest in this state. "Today we don't want to talk about politics, politics, politics. We want to talk about how we can win the hearts of the people by reducing their burdens. This is what we must do. This is what the young people must ensure is peace, prosperity so that we can continue to move forward better," he said. -- BERNAMA

SEREMBAN: The Unity Government will continue to focus on three main thrusts, namely maintaining political stability, driving economic prosperity and safeguarding the welfare of the people, said Pakatan Harapan (PH) Secretary-General Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. He said this principle is also the basis of unification in the Unity Government and has been proven in […]