MELAKA: Young people should not be deemed too inexperienced to contest elections when political parties have long relied on them to carry out much of their campaign work, acting Melaka PKR chairman Adam Adli Abd Halim said
He said it was unfair to question the suitability of young candidates based solely on their age when they were often the backbone of election campaigns.
“Look at any political party. It is the young people who put up flags, hang banners, gather crowds for speeches, distribute flyers and even argue on social media.
“But when it comes to becoming candidates, suddenly they are considered too young. That makes things difficult,” he said at a Pakatan Harapan daily press conference here today.
Adam Adli, who is also deputy higher education minister, was responding to questions on whether PH’s younger candidates could convince older voters who remained sceptical about their experience and capabilities.
PH has fielded several young candidates for the Melaka election, including Muhammad Mukhlisul Mubin Julasapiyah, 24, in Kuala Linggi, Farzana Hayani Mohd Nasir, 26, in Klebang, and Jason Tze-Xi Nathan, 31, in Pengkalan Batu.
Adam Adli said the coalition’s decision to field younger candidates was aimed at ensuring that elected representatives reflected the electorate’s demographics, particularly following the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration.
He said young candidates should not be judged solely on their political experience or communication skills, which might differ from those of more seasoned politicians.
“We must acknowledge that there is still an old stigma surrounding young candidates. Many face pressure because they supposedly lack experience or do not communicate in the same way as older politicians.
“But if we do not start giving them opportunities now, how can they gain the experience needed in the next five or 10 years?
“We hope they can begin gaining that experience now,” he said.
However, he acknowledged that fielding young candidates did not necessarily guarantee support from younger voters.
“We cannot assume that just because we have young candidates, we will automatically win young voters. The mathematics does not work that way,” he said.
He said young voters’ political preferences were shaped by various factors, including their families, parents, social surroundings and political beliefs.
As such, younger candidates must demonstrate their ability to appeal not only to their peers but also to older generations.
Adam Adli added that PH had also introduced the “Trak Pilih Harapan” initiative as part of its campaign strategy to engage younger voters through a more relaxed and interactive approach.
He said although the truck was equipped to host political speeches, the coalition had opted to use it as a space for informal discussions over coffee, allowing young people to interact directly with candidates and party leaders rather than simply listening to conventional campaign speeches.
Meanwhile, Melaka PH chairman Adly Zahari said the coalition’s candidates, regardless of age, would ultimately be judged by their ability to understand and address issues affecting their constituencies.
He said younger candidates in constituencies such as Kuala Linggi, Klebang and Pengkalan Batu had been actively engaging with residents to understand their concerns.
“Whether they are young, middle-aged or older, our focus is on how they understand the issues affecting their respective constituencies and find solutions.
“Although their experience may differ, their objective remains the same, which is to help the people resolve the problems they face,” he said.
Adly said younger candidates could also serve as a bridge between the coalition and younger voters, particularly in identifying economic opportunities and issues affecting their future.
However, he agreed that youth voting patterns were influenced by several factors beyond candidates’ ages, including family members, peers and social media.
He said PH would take these factors into account in its efforts to secure support from younger voters in the election.