HANG TUAH JAYA - Young candidates should be given opportunities to contest in the Melaka state election to strengthen their representation in the democratic process and develop the experience needed to become future leaders.
Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Melaka acting chairman Adam Adli Abd Halim said the participation of younger candidates reflected changing voter demographics following the introduction of automatic voter registration and the lowering of the voting age to 18.
Adam said candidate selection should not be determined by their positions within the party or personal connections with certain leaders.
Instead, he said, the process should ensure that different segments of society were represented.
“We have always maintained the approach that all representatives from the community should have representation and participate in the electoral process.
“We focus on representation in terms of race, gender and the wider community,” he said on Tuesday.
He was responding to criticism surrounding the participation of young candidates in the 16th Melaka state election.
Adam said younger candidates should be given the opportunity to introduce themselves to voters and demonstrate their capabilities, particularly as some might be contesting in an election for the first time.
He added that public assessments should also consider the stigma and pressure faced by young candidates, including perceptions that they lacked the experience and communication skills of their more established counterparts.
“We cannot keep expecting young people to only put up flags and banners, gather people for ‘ceramah’, distribute leaflets and deal with arguments on social media, but when they want to become candidates, they are not given the opportunity.
“So, Pakatan Harapan (PH) recognises this issue and we are constantly facing this challenge,” he said.
However, Adam cautioned that fielding young candidates would not automatically secure support from younger voters, as their political preferences were shaped by various influences.
“The political leanings of young people are also influenced by their surrounding environment, including their parents, families and their own political considerations.
“We must see this as a reality. If we do not start now, we will not be able to build a more comprehensive experience for this group over the next five to 10 years,” he said.