Undi18 poser over electing political greenhorns

PETALING JAYA: With the age of eligibility for people to contest in an election lowered in most states, the question now is whether Malaysians are ready to elect 18-year-olds into power.

While analysts feel that the 18-21 age range may be too young for an individual to stand as a candidate, youth groups and political parties are more optimistic.

Senior fellow of the Malaysian Council of Professors Dr Jeniri Amir said that Malaysians were not prepared to elect a political greenhorn as they would prefer to vote for a person with more experience.

“I do not believe the people are ready to elect a person as young as 18 as a representative. I think our voters prefer those who are matured and have more wisdom, and this comes with age and experience.

“To mature in politics, that takes time. Politics is full of challenges and one needs to be truly exposed and trained in it.

“Someone aged 18 and has just left school and has not completed their studies will not have that maturity,” said the veteran political analyst.

Universiti Malaya’s Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said most political parties were not likely to be prepared to field candidates as young as 18.

“There is the view that giving young people the chance to be involved in politics does not mean that they will be chosen as candidates at a young age.

“Many view that at that age (18 to 21), it is a time where young people are preparing themselves for their career and future.

“The Undi18 movement is more to provide youngsters the chance to be involved in party politics, rather than getting them to be election candidates,” said Dr Awang Azman.

Meanwhile, youth groups including Undi18 – the movement that spearheaded the campaign to lower the voting age – believe youngsters are ready to contest in elections.

Undi18 associate Soon Wei Xen said he was confident that 18-year-olds were matured enough to be elected representatives, but stressed that it only consisted of a handful of youths.

“So, that is why it is our job and duty to expose and talk about all these opportunities and issues at hand,” said Soon, who agreed that younger candidates in elections would usher in a new era.

“Youths can now be platformed to voice their opinion and views on current affairs, whether political, social or economical,” he said, adding that youth participation in public affairs was now very high.

Umno Youth exco member Hafiz Ariffin said with the lowering of electoral candidacy age, it was high time parties adjust their structures to allow more youth participation in politics.

“The addition of more than 40% new voters who are young will have a significant effect on voting patterns in the next general election,” said Hafiz.

On Thursday, the Johor legislative assembly passed a Bill to amend its state constitution to lower the eligible age for electoral candidacy.

Melaka is the only state in the country that has yet to do so.