As GE15 looms closer, Malaysian youths are increasingly curious and hungry for political literacy; whether it is taking democracy to the streets or stalls engulfed with the aroma of tom yum at Kelas Demokrasi, it's evident that where democracy leads, youths will follow.
The impending GE15 sends us a beacon of light, a glimmer of hope at change and progression, especially as we, the youth, are finally given the voice and opportunity to vote for a better Malaysia. When we think of this time, we should think of liberation and freedom for all; freedom to vote, freedom from labels, and to be ourselves and to present ourselves in the ways we wish.
With politics being a topic discouraged within the walls of schools, many would argue that 18-year-olds could not possibly have the capacity to understand the complexity of Malaysian politics. One of the reasons for lowering the voting age is so that the youth’s interests can be represented and for there to be an increase in voter turnout; this is surely one way to ensure democracy in Malaysia is being upheld as citizens exercise their right to vote. But what about the step that precedes voting — forming one’s own political opinions? How is the youth supposed to understand the goals and ambitions of the political campaigns running for the 15th General Election?
Over the past few years, Malaysia has seen a tremendous shift in political power. For the first time since its independence, Malaysia was ruled by an opposing coalition. Two years later, in February 2020, the Perikatan Nasional coalition was formed and led by the eighth Prime Minister, Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin. A period of political unrest followed the period of COVID-19 outbreak, eventually leading to the dissolution of Parliament on 10 October 2022, paving way for the upcoming 15th General Election (GE15). What does this mean for the nation and the people? Is this a sign of the end of democracy as many would claim? Or the start of a democratic reformation?
An old saying goes, “a day in politics is a very long time”. I hope that Elizabeth Truss will find solace in that saying. Her 50 days in office is the shortest in British history and when history tells its tale, she will not be remembered well. Number 10 is now inhabited by Rishi Sunak, the first British-Asian to hold the position. Mr Sunak, who lost the Tory Party leadership race to Ms Truss the previous month, inherits an economy with stubborn inflationary pressure, a fractured Tory party, and a low approval rating in the polls.
After standing in long lines, the very act of marking your fingers with ink and putting a cross in a box next to a name sends a sense of relief through your body, as an anxiety-inducing election will soon reach its finishing line. However, that is swiftly followed by a melange of emotions cropping up. Your heart is suddenly beating fast, your mind is racing, you're having trouble sleeping, and you’re exhausted and overwhelmed from consuming the news outlet on end, uncertain of what the next years will hold. These are valid feelings and are soon to be experienced by millions of Malaysians.
How do we stand apart from the rest without losing our sense of belonging? How do we gain that sense of belonging without losing our sense of self? What is the role of authenticity in all this? What is authenticity in the first place?
With the rise of speedy information and awareness in this generation, people are becoming more vocal about human rights. However, there are opposing views with regards to progressing human rights laws in Malaysia, especially from older generations and leaders like Mahathir and Lee Kuan Yew. Believing that human rights would jeopardise the development of the community due to excessive freedom, it is seen as a form of Western imperialism in disguise and Asian countries like Malaysia should stick to Asian Values.
These days, the media is the main source of news and entertainment. With TV shows and video games being at peoples' fingertips, it is easy to become overexposed to content, including those of violent nature. As a result, violence - be it through the news, videos or pictures - is slowly being normalised, and people are gradually becoming numb.
Leaders around the world gathered for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP26), a two-week summit to negotiate and enforce action tackling climate change issues. However, the conference left most with yet another letdown. Disappointed and outraged, large groups of activists protested around London on November 6th demanding for real action.
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