SG PETANI – Parents should be responsible for the conduct of their children when it comes to the political outlook and conduct of those in the Undi18 voters’ segment, said Deputy Youth and Sports Minister Adam Adli Abd Halim.
Those aged 18 and above should be given access to all political parties by their parents, so the raw and young segment, which involves those aged between 18 and 21, can best determine who can optimally serve their interests.
He said how the guardians guide the young charges in the family is an important element in determining the attitudes and behaviours of young voters.
Earlier last Friday, several groups were hampered from attending the grand finale of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s rally in Taman Eupe here when they were besieged by convoys of motorcyclists holding Perikatan Nasional (PN) flags in Sg Petani.
According to Adam Adli, the majority of such motorcyclists hailed from religious boarding schools, with some even starting from the pre-school levels.
“They may not be exposed to the moderation which Malaysian society is accustomed to,” he said in an interview. “It is up to us and the other relevant authorities to show them otherwise, but we are not a communist country who forcibly believe in indoctrination rather than understanding.”
The onus is on parents to guide their children on how to look at politics from a mature standpoint and not to sheepishly follow certain parties, especially as it has been proven that they are not the leaders that they make themselves out to be, claimed the PKR Youth chief.
Meanwhile, political pundits believe that most Undi-18 voters stayed loyal to Perikatan Nasional as the coalition claimed supermajorities in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu.
While the Pakatan Harapan-Barisan Nasional alliance retained a two-third majority in Negri Sembilan and Penang, in the latter it just narrowly attained one
PH was the incumbent government in the three states.
Pundit R. Lawrence said that PN won handsomely in Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu because the younger voters stayed loyal with them despite the various incentives which Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s government had offered them.
He said that the unity bloc could not win over the young to major effect because many were schooled in a different principled stance – far from the moderation and tolerance which Anwar advocates for. – The Vibes, August 13, 2023
