A chance to shape the country’s future

THE closer we get to the elections, the more anticipation builds.

It feels familiar, though there are also hints of change in the air.

Out of all the comments that I have seen regarding the coming elections, one of the most common is “What’s the point of voting? It’s not like anything will change.”

I completely understand this sentiment. I used to feel this way too, but think about this: What will happen if all of us think the same way?

If you are 18 and above, you need to realise that you have the unique opportunity to shape the future of your country.

By voting, you can make your voice heard on the issues that matter most to you.

For all of our misgivings, we are quite an informative crowd.

In the past, people would often only have access to the news that was published in their local newspaper or broadcast on the radio and television. But with the Internet, information can now spread almost instantaneously and people can get news from all over the world and learn about events as they happen.

However, not everyone gets the same access to information, something that is crucial when it comes to making decisions.

People who are struggling often have to prioritise bread-and-butter issues instead of expensive technology.

A lot of times, they cannot afford to spend money on things that aren’t essential to their survival, like Internet access.

And yet, there are also a lot of us who have unlimited access to the Internet.

While misinformation may still be rife, we are exposed to a vast sea of information, updates and details.

Those who have the privilege of having access to the Internet have more resources at their disposal to make informed choices.

Hence with the privilege of technology and access to the Internet, the responsibility of voting lies slightly heavier in your hand.

It is easy to get frustrated with others about their candidate choices, but perhaps that anger comes from your feelings of hopelessness towards the future.

It is easy for us to throw up our hands and claim that the act of voting has lost its meaning, or that an individual vote doesn’t matter.

Some don’t want to vote because they don’t feel informed enough about the issues and candidates. They don’t want to make a decision that they may later regret.

My observation is that there is hesitance towards voting due to hypothetical futures.

I strongly believe we should start putting things in the now. Casualties have been made while we wait for “the right one”.

If there is a stand that you must make, do it at the ballot box.

The future we want is in the hands of each individual.

Each of us holds a little fragment of the collective power. Use it wisely. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

Shafiqah Othman is a women and children’s rights activist who has worked with various non-governmental organisations that focus on issues of fundamental human rights.

She believes in the importance of intersectionality and strives to lend her platform to silenced voices. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.