PUTRAJAYA: A single-word response – “InsyaAllah” – from newly appointed Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari has fuelled speculation that the Madani government is sharpening its appeal to young voters ahead of Malaysia’s next general election.
Dr Mohammed Taufiq, 29, gave the reply when asked whether his appointment was intended to win the hearts of younger voters, particularly in Kedah, where he serves as the Sungai Petani MP.
Speaking to reporters at Menara KBS shortly after his swearing-in ceremony at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur this morning, he asked for time to familiarise himself with his new role, adding that he would hold a press conference once he had settled in.
When pressed on whether the appointment of two relatively young MPs with clear regional and demographic appeal signalled that the Madani administration intended to leverage the ministry to court youth support, Dr Mohammed Taufiq responded: “InsyaAllah.”
Dr Mohammed Taufiq, who will turn 30 on March 6, 2026, is also PKR Youth vice-chief. He has been appointed alongside DAP’s Mordi Bimol, 40, the Mas Gading MP from Sarawak, who will serve as his deputy at the ministry.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s decision to promote Dr Mohammed Taufiq and Mordi to replace Hannah Yeoh and Adam Adli Abd Halim has drawn attention as political parties gear up for the polls. Kedah is currently under Pas rule.
Earlier this week, political analyst Professor James Chin told Twentytwo13 that younger voters are increasingly detached from the Bersih movement and the reformasi narratives that once mobilised support for PKR and DAP.
“These young voters don’t have any nostalgia or legacy issues. They were not part of the reformasi or Bersih movements,” Chin said.
He added that political engagement among this group is driven less by institutions or ideology and more by content that captures attention quickly.