Besides deciding what to eat and where to hang out, Malaysian youths will also decide who will win in the Sungai Bakap by-election. Youth voters have traditionally been considered unreliable in other democracies. However, in Malaysia, voter turnout among Malaysians aged 18 to 30 (Gen Z and Millennials) in GE 15 was a surprising and robust 75.6 percent, according to political expert Bridget Welsh. This turnout rate nearly matched that of the 41- to 50-year-old group. It is important to note that most Malaysian youths eligible to vote are Gen Zs as their current age range is 12 - 27 years old as of 2024. In the last GE15, there was significant excitement about the youth vote. Political events and social media platforms, especially TikTok, specifically targeted young voters, with many news reports and analyses referring to them as "potential kingmakers."
Now, as the by-election approaches, the influence of young voters especially Gen Z Malaysians remains pivotal. The political landscape of Sungai Bakap is in their hands, and their decisions will shape the future of their community and the nation. In this article, let us explore the impact Malaysian youths are bound to have on the Sungai Bakap by-election.
As of last year, there are approximately 38,409 registered voters in the constituency. Of these, 59.36% are Malays, 22.54% are Chinese, 17.39% are Indians, and 0.71% belong to other ethnicities. Tharma Pillai, the co-founder of UNDI18, mentioned that the voter turnout rate for a by-election is typically around 60%. He expects the youth voter (Gen Zs) turnout to be around 55%, considering that many youths in the constituency will be studying or working out of town. It is worth noting that the Sungai Bakap area hosts numerous factories and industrial zones, leading to a predominance of foreign workers. As a result, many young Malaysians in Sungai Bakap have to work in nearby towns or migrate to cities like Kuala Lumpur. Aishah Farhana Aziz, a 20-year-old voter (A Gen Z Malaysian) from Kampung Sungai Buaya, said, “Most of my peers had to leave or commute from our village to work in nearby towns because many factory employers in this area prefer outsiders over locals. I hope this issue will be addressed.”. I believe the problem regarding the influx of foreign workers and which candidate can best address it will affect the results of the Sungai Bakap by-election but that is a topic for another day.
The impact of Malaysian youths on closely contested seats like Sungai Bakap should not be underestimated. As Dr. Bridget Welsh explains, “Undi18 was less than 4 percent of the overall electorate (in Johor), and turnout was less than half. Since at least 15 seats were close, this group (referring to Malaysian youths) would have made an impact on the outcome if they voted.” Sungai Bakap is a closely-contested seat as in the state election last year, the seat was captured by Perikatan Nasional (PN). Perikatan Nasional defeated Pakatan Harapan (PH) by a margin of 1,563 votes. This indicates that the upcoming contest will likely remain a close fight.
The potential influence of young voters on the by-election result is so significant that Pakatan Harapan candidate Dr. Joohari Ariffin is actively courting Gen Zs and Millennials through social media campaigns, especially on TikTok. His team produces 2-3 TikTok videos daily, which have garnered up to 240,000 views, demonstrating the platform's effectiveness in reaching young voters. Dr. Joohari also engages with youth through e-sports tournaments like the MADANI PUBG Championship. This approach helps bridge the gap between adult candidates and first-time youth voters, sparking their interest in the political process.
Even PMX himself has urged voters in the Sungai Bakap state by-election, particularly the youth, to support the unity government candidate, Dr Joohari Ariffin. This reminder was conveyed by his senior political secretary, Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Md Akin. He emphasized that the reminder was crucial to ensure the comprehensive implementation of infrastructure programs and development in Sungai Bakap. "Now that the Penang government is aligned with the Federal Government... let's assist the state government; Prime Minister supports the candidate who can be of assistance," he told reporters after inaugurating the Madani B40 Greenhouse Project at the Kampung Sungai Duri Community Movement Hall on Thursday, June 27th.
In conclusion, Malaysian youths are poised to wield significant influence in the outcome of the Sungai Bakap by-election. Beyond their choices in everyday life, their votes will determine whether Pakatan Harapan (PH) or Perikatan Nasional (PN) emerges victorious. Historically considered unreliable in other democracies, Malaysian youth demonstrated a robust turnout of 75.6% in the recent GE15, paralleling that of older age groups. As the by-election nears, candidates like Dr. Joohari Ariffin of PH actively engage young voters through innovative platforms like TikTok and e-sports tournaments, recognizing their pivotal role in shaping the future. With approximately 38,409 registered voters, comprising a diverse ethnic makeup, and considerations of youth mobility due to local industrial dynamics, the contest remains closely contested. The reminder from PMX underscores the importance of youth participation in steering local development initiatives. As ballots are cast, the decisions of Gen Z and Millennials in Sungai Bakap will reverberate beyond local borders, shaping the path forward for their community and the nation as a whole.
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