Give our young people more room in democracy

Sin Chew Daily, Asia News Network, Selangor, Malaysia

The election war is ravaging. News about the coming election are flooding our newspapers and TV news programs. While it is obvious that everyone knows the election is near, the striking fact is that a lot of people in this country still do not have much idea why on earth we need to hold an election.

Don't believe it? Just ask those youngsters spending their leisurely hours at Starbucks or any of our numerous shopping malls, and chances are there that most of them will tell you they know nuts about the country's electoral system, let alone spending some time to cast their votes on March 21.

Politics, elections and voting are things too remote for these young people, who think they are cool and "in". These people only care about how the latest autumn fashion will look like, which mobile phone companies will launch new products and which celebrities are entangled in messy romance again.

Of course, not all youngsters are indifferent to politics. However, the number of those young people -- varsity students included -- keen on politics is inconspicuous.

Recently, an election appeal by varsity students has offered a bright spot. At least we have heard the voice of young tertiary students, although their number constitutes only a pathetic minority.

There are a number of new faces in the coming election, including quite a number of new blood, who are either contesting in the election or helping out behind the scene or participating in strategic planning.

We need a new lease of life in our politics. It is therefore essential that political parties recruit more rookies and groom more future leaders so that we will not be short of suitably qualified leaders when the old birds are slowly relinquishing their duties.

Judging from the existing circumstances, the young people themselves must have a certain degree of enthusiasm first if they are to have a hand in politics or current affairs.

Most of the knowledge of these young people on our democratic system, party politics and the modus operandi of national administration, has been derived from the media, school teachers or friends around them. If they want to deepen their understanding of politics, they most probably need to look to the environment for inspiration.

But, given the fact that young people, in particular tertiary students, have long refused to participate in public affairs, they are getting slowly alienated, even completely dislodged from the society in which they live.

Our young people are more prone to accept the values which emphasize profits and interests. This, coupled with the distortion by the exam-oriented education system and parents' dissuasion to participate in social deeds, has limited the young people's concerns for the society, let alone taking part in politics.

The nation's future lies very much in the hands of these young people. Our society and nation should offer more room for the development of these young people, in which they can maximize their talents and breathe a new lease of life into the country's future.

The general election offers a platform for them to voice their opinions. The government should try to remove all the blockades imposed upon varsity students, and instill in them an understanding of democracy.