PETALING JAYA: They may have been the political coalition of choice for young voters, but Perikatan Nasional is cautious about treating this group as its fixed deposit.
The coalition's youth leaders are aware that today's young voters are more politically savvy and critical, and they are not loyal to any one party or coalition.
So while the coalition managed to gain between 57% and 70% of the youth vote in Malay-belt states in the 15th General Election and the 2023 state elections (SE15), this trend could change or reverse itself in the 16th General Election (GE16).
The political party that will eventually win over the young voters in GE16 are the ones that can deliver on the issues that top their priorities – secure jobs, affordable housing and quality education, they said.
PAS central working committee member Khairil Nizam Khirudin said youth support for Perikatan in GE15 was driven by a combination of the coalition’s effective social media campaign and the coalition’s track record while in the Federal Government.
“They saw how Perikatan had effectively steered the country out of the Covid-19 pandemic and this increased their interest and support for Perikatan,” said Khairil Nizam, who is also Jerantut MP.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, the chairman of Perikatan, led the country during the Covid-19 pandemic from March 2020 to August 2021, earning him the nickname "Abah" (father).
Khairil Nizam stated that Abah and the Perikatan government’s achievements during those difficult policy implementation periods were widely communicated to young voters via social media.
Another Perikatan youth leader, Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal, echoed this observation, saying that Perikatan’s TikTok team was superior to that of its rivals, thus helping it to connect with young voters on the platform.
The Star analysis of election data showed that Perikatan managed to chart increases in youth support from GE15 to SE15 even in Pakatan Harapan-ruled states Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Penang.
But despite these successes, both leaders said that whatever advantage Perikatan may have gained among the youth cannot be taken for granted.
“Many of them are fence-sitter voters. They are not loyal to any party. They will only back parties that capture their imaginations and aspirations,” said Wan Ahmad Fayhsal, who is also Machang MP.
Khairil Nizam said in reality, voting trends among the young and first-time voters are unpredictable.
“They don’t look at parties but are focused on their interests and those of their families. They will support candidates that will fight for their welfare and their priorities.”
Whichever political party provides for these priorities – jobs that pay fair wages, affordable housing and quality education – will be the one that gets the youth vote in GE16, they said.
“They want a government that will lighten their burden and are not afraid to punish those that don’t serve them at the ballot box,” said Khairil Nizam.
