MELAKA: Young candidates should be given the opportunity to prove their ability to serve the people rather than be judged solely on their age and experience, says Datuk Seri Adly Zahari.
The Melaka Pakatan Harapan chairman said Amanah’s Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julaisapiyah, 25, who is contesting in Kuala Linggi, and PKR’s Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir, 26, who is standing in Klebang, represented a younger generation ready to take on public responsibilities.
He acknowledged that Mukhlisul had faced criticism over his age, experience and background but defended the young candidate as sincere in putting forward ideas and solutions to address problems faced by the people.
On questions surrounding Mukhlisul’s involvement in initiatives linked to the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Adly said he had been a volunteer before the election and had undertaken such efforts in cooperation with the relevant agencies.
He also clarified that Mukhlisul’s meeting with the Prime Minister’s political secretary, Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim, was because they were friends and members of the same party, rather than for political reasons.
Adly said elected representatives naturally had networks that could help them address issues affecting their constituencies.
Government representatives, in particular, could work with the Chief Minister, and young elected representatives should make use of such networks to serve the people, he added.
Adly also said young people tended to focus less on risks and more on results, which he considered a positive quality.
Rejecting stereotypes that young people were less resilient, he said both candidates were educated, knowledgeable and resilient.
Adly said he was grateful to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Amanah president Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu for selecting Mukhlisul as the candidate for Kuala Linggi.
He urged voters in Kuala Linggi and Klebang to give the two candidates an opportunity to serve, saying their aspirations to contribute to society at a young age were important regardless of the election outcome.
