AS Malaysia celebrates 62 years of nationhood, we are fortunate to enjoy the relative political stability.
In Thailand, a sudden upheaval unfolded when Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was removed by the Constitutional Court. Meanwhile in Indonesia, frustration with the political elite erupted into widespread protests, aggravated by contentious policies and a fatal scandal involving a motorcycle taxi driver crushed by a police vehicle.
In contrast, Malaysia’s calm is a treasure that reminds our political class of the responsibility they bear to nurture, not squander, the trust of the next generation.
Malaysia Day is not only about looking back. It is also about asking what lessons are being passed on to the next generation. On this front, Malaysia’s political elites must pause and realise something urgent: the youth are watching.
Today’s youth are more exposed, more digitally connected, and more skeptical than any generation before them. They do not consume political developments from filtered television or newspapers, but directly from TikTok, Instagramand Twitter/X.
This means that every soundbite, every corruption trialand every polarising remark reaches them almost instantly. Worse, when these actions go unpunished, they signal that accountability is optional and hypocrisy is acceptable. That is not the Malaysia we should be building at 62.
One of the most troubling trends is how easily politicians resort to racial or religious rhetoric when convenient. A recent example was the controversy surrounding the national flag, where rather than serving as a unifying symbol, it was turned into a political weapon to score political points.
When the national flag was mistakenly hoisted upside down, instead of handling it with grace, the Umno Youth Chief publicly denounced them, exposed their location, and called for people to protest. Such incidents turn the Jalur Gemilang into a political cudgel.
This rhetoric not only alienates young voters, but it also embeds cynicism that despite progress in education, technologyand social mixing, Malaysia’s politics will forever be held hostage to racial wedges. If politicians continue down this path, they may win short-term points, but they will lose the trust of an entire generation
Similarly, another worrying incident surfaced when the former Chief Operations Officer of MyBurgerLab made a public comment likening Terengganu’s Shariah law of penalising Muslim men who miss Friday prayers to the aftermath of a revolution in Iran.
His remarks were widely condemned as Islamophobic for proposing that implementation of Islamic law is “extreme.” When religious sentiment is used as ammunition, the foundation of unity is quickly eroded. The result? Disillusionment.
Equally damaging to Malaysia is the persistence of corruption scandals. Unfortunately, many youth already believe that political office is less about service and more about access to contracts, licensesand influence. As Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli saidtaking bribes is the most profitable business in Malaysia.
What is especially dangerous is when corruption and accountability disputes spill over into intimidation. The recent incident involving the former economic minister’s son being physically attacked following allegations of financial wrongdoing is a chilling precedent.
When political disagreements descend into threats or violence, it signals to young Malaysians that the path of intimidation is an acceptable extension of politics. Such actions send a deadly message to the youth. If civic courage is met with violence, why bother to speak up?
At 62 years old, our country deserves better.
Leaders must recognise the symbolic weight of their actions. Every inflammatory statement is amplified online. Every corruption trial shapes how young voters judge not only individuals, but the system as a whole.
Conduct, therefore, must rise above theatrics. What matters is whether wrongdoing leads to justice, or whether it is swept aside in the name of “political stability.”
Political parties must reorient their strategies toward long-term credibility, not short-term mobilisations. This means valuing integrity in candidate selection, embracing policy debates rather than personal attacksand demonstrating that leadership is service, not entitlement.
Most importantly, leaders cannot lose sight of what voters themselves consistently say they want: a focus on the economy. According to Merdeka Centre’s May 2025 national survey, economic concerns outweighed all other issues, showing that credibility must be measured not only by ethics but also by the ability to secure growth, jobsand affordability.
This year’s National Day celebration on Aug 31 gave us a glimpse of what is possible. Malaysians of every race, faith and background lined the streets of Putrajaya, waved the flag, and sang together to Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza’s rendition of Malaysia Madani, Rakyat Disantuni. For a moment, the country wasn’t fractured along partisan lines. That is what the youth need more of.
The greatest tribute Malaysia’s politicians can pay to 62 years post-formation is to behave in a way that ensures the next 62 are marked by pride. And that begins with remembering that the youth are watching.
Syaza Shukri, PhD, is an associate professor and the current Head at the Department of Political Science, IIUM. The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of Sinar Daily.