KUCHING: Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) defeat in the just concluded Johor election on top of other electoral defeats since 2018 must be a final wake-up call for PH, said Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii.
“To do things differently, we must bring fresh perspectives to the table. PH needs to lay serious groundwork to build a cohesive youth movement leading up to the 15th General Elections (GE15).
“The movement needs to be inclusive, creative and clearly communicate ideas and policies on issues affecting them such as education, decent jobs and housing.
“Such a movement must be a collective effort to reach out, engage, listen and more importantly get them involved and even possibly take important political leadership,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Mar 13).
Admittedly, he said that the task was not easy but it needs to start now.
“This renewal starts with us. Young Malaysians will be the bridge that connects disparate groups, energising them into a potent and cohesive force to build a better future,” he said.
He also said that the Johor election displays a real concern – that if progressive forces continue to be divided, Malaysia will descend towards a failed state, where political leaders convicted of mega-corruption crimes are tolerated and even celebrated as heroes.
“But even in this bleakest moment, there is a glimmer of light. There is a glimpse of hope toward a real renewal that our nation and our people crucially need – more young people are realising that their voice matters in determining our country’s future,” he said.
“Pictures of stained fingers and stories of first-time voters sharing their experience are aplenty on social media. Many mobilised family, friends, relatives, and social media circles to come out and vote.
“Led by a team of youths, the UndiJohor initiative mobilised and brought home up to 5,000 votes from Malaysians working in Singapore,” he said.
He added that many successful candidates’ campaigns were also run by scores of young people.
“Teams that did not win nonetheless fought a brave and more importantly, clean fight that promoted their candidates on the basis of service and integrity, not on the basis of race, religion or the bags of goodies they could hand out.
“This gives hope that the renewal of our country starts with the youth, but more importantly we must encourage more young people in positions of main authority and leadership,” said Dr Yii.
