KUALA LUMPUR: Political education and responsible civic engagement have become more critical than ever for younger voters as they navigate a digital landscape rife with misinformation and polarising narratives, says Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy.
The Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) board of governors chairman added that while the entry of younger Malaysians into the electorate had injected fresh energy into the country’s politics, it had also exposed them to new risks online.
“Younger voters are more exposed to misinformation, political polarisation and emotionally- driven content, especially in digital spaces.
“That is why political education and responsible civic engagement are so important,” he said in his speech at the opening of the launch of Assoc Prof Datuk Dr Monna Ong Siew Siew’s book, Engaging a Generation: Voting Intention and Political Participation Among Malaysian Millennials yesterday.
TARC Education Foundation board of trustees chairman Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong launched the book. The event also featured an expert review session.
The book looks at how young Malaysians form political opinions and decide whether or not to participate in politics in the wake of Undi18.
Chan said the lowering of the voting age and the expansion of the youth electorate had reshaped the country’s political landscape by putting millennials and younger cohorts at the centre of democratic participation.
“Political participation today extends far beyond casting a ballot. Among millennials, it increasingly takes the form of digital engagement, issue-based advocacy and active discourse on social media platforms.”
Chan said Assoc Prof Ong’s research, which is grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, sheds light on how attitudes, social norms and a sense of control shape young people’s intention to vote and take part in politics.
“Her work shows that voting is not just a rational act. It is influenced by social environment, identity, trust, and whether young people feel their actions matter,” he said, adding that the findings are relevant not only to academics but also to policymakers and educators.
Chan said Assoc Prof Ong managed to turn her PhD thesis into a published academic book within a year of completing her doctorate in Psychology in 2024.
Assoc Prof Ong is among TAR UMT’s pioneering PhD graduates.
The book was published by Universiti Malaya Press in 2025.
Chan said that since achieving full university status in 2022, TAR UMT has been pushing for a stronger research culture, higher academic standards, and deeper engagement with industry, community and society.
Assoc Prof Ong described her book as an exploration of what shapes Malaysian millennials’ engagement in public life.
“My study explores a question that is both academic and deeply relevant to our society: How do Malaysian millennials understand participation, and what truly shapes their engagement in public life?”
She said the guidance and patience of her mentors and supervisors had supported her through challenging moments.
“They did not simply guide a thesis; they nurtured a journey.”
She also thanked Chan for his mentorship. “From him, I have learnt that knowledge must not remain confined to theory, but must find its way into practice, into society and into the lived realities of people.”
