SEREMBAN: For many young voters, the Aug 1 Negri Sembilan state election will be their first trip to the ballot box.
As youths account for a sizeable portion of the state’s 889,490 registered voters, election candidates cannot afford to ignore the views of these cohort of constituents, as these voters could emerge as the kingmakers in closely fought seats.
Ho Wie Sheng, 24, is hoping the cost of living becomes more manageable, especially when it comes to housing and rental costs.
“Young people should not have to spend half of their income on rent. We should have the opportunity to save, plan for the future and enjoy a better quality of life.”
Content creator Alya Adriana, 25, hopes more jobs will be created to support talent development and provide young people with stable careers.
“This would enable youths to contribute more meaningfully to the country’s progress,” she said.
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Alya also hopes to grow in her chosen field, gain experience and contribute positively to society.
Twenty-one-year old IT-undergraduate Theeraj Singh hopes the state government will help create more job opportunities for young people in Negri Sembilan.
“Most of my cousins and seniors in school from Seremban work in the Klang Valley, Penang and Singapore as there aren’t many premium-paying jobs for graduates here.
“There are new industrial areas opening up, but many are either fully automated or provide only highly-skilled jobs,” he said.
Theeraj, who uses KTM Komuter regularly to get to his university in Bukit Jalil, said the KTM Komuter and ETS services need to be upgraded.
Law student Natasha Nathan, 23, said it was important for young people to vote as the decisions made today will shape the state’s future.
“Issues like the cost of living, infrastructure, healthcare and education directly affect our generation, so it’s important that our voices are heard.
“I also hope this election brings political stability as a government that is able to serve its full term can focus on delivering its plans instead of dealing with constant political uncertainty,” she said.
Student and first-time voter Muhammad Aidilsyawal Suleiman, 20, said any government that takes over should continue policies that benefit the public instead of abandoning them after a change in administration.
“After I vote, I will keep monitoring my assemblyman to see whether they deliver on their promises,” he said.
Aidilsyawal said he follows updates on the state election through TikTok, where he researches candidates’ pledges before deciding how to vote.
He added that although development takes time, elected representatives should ultimately be judged on whether they fulfil the commitments they make.
Lee Yu Wen, 19, hopes the state government will provide better welfare and financial assistance.
She said many students and low-income families need support due to the rising cost of living.
“As a university student, I will be looking for a job after I graduate.
“I want the government to create more employment opportunities so that fresh graduates like me can have a better future,” she said, adding that they would not have to look elsewhere for jobs.
Ahmad Fadhlee Shahrom, 35, hopes the next elected representative for Kuala Pilah will prioritise infrastructure, particularly by widening the road between Kuala Pilah and Seremban to ease chronic traffic congestion.
He also hopes for a government-registered Islamic educational institution, similar to a tahfiz, to help strengthen children’s religious education.
Student Parvinash Paramaswaran, 23, also hopes for a stable state government to be formed after the polls.
He wants to see more sustained efforts by the new state government to deal with the rising cost of living.
“Measures to keep essential goods affordable, improve public services, and support economic growth need to be implemented as these would help young adults like me achieve greater financial stability and a better quality of life.
“I will be working soon, so I wish there will be stronger support for a smoother transition from university to employment through graduate programmes, skills development initiatives, and closer collaboration between universities and industries, so that fresh graduates can secure meaningful jobs more easily,” he said.
