Youth disenchanted with Pakatan Harapan, say analysts
KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan’s failure to attract youth aged 21 to 30 during its recent “Anti-Kleptocracy Rally” shows that the younger generation is becoming disenchanted with the opposition pact’s “never-ending” negative sentiments.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi said the opposition had failed to understand the youth and their take on politics.
He said incessantly playing up negative sentiments would drive youth away from Pakatan Harapan as the younger generation did not condone character assassination and “politics of emotions”.
“Gen Y wants freedom of speech and to be able to make their own decisions. They want to shape their own political direction, and this does not mean supporting Pakatan Harapan.
“They prefer openness, transparency and integrity. Continuous negative sentiments will only bore the younger generation.
“This is why youth were sceptical about the rally because they can tell that the opposition will only blame the government in their speeches. They want a balanced political perspective,” he said yesterday.
The Pakatan Harapan-led rally last Saturday saw a turnout of less than 5,000, compared with the expected 100,000. Very few youth attended.
This was despite the presence of big names in the opposition such as Pakatan Harapan chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang and Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali.
Selangor police chief Datuk Mazlan Mansor said about 4,000 people attended the rally.
Pas Youth chief Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi said Pakatan Harapan’s approach of “endless complaining” and “false politics” was what drove youth away.
“With the younger generation, we can’t just attract them to support us. We need to educate and inform them of the facts and the truth. Otherwise, they will walk away.”
Universiti Sains Malaysia political expert Professor Dr Sivamurugan Pandian said Pakatan Harapan could not mobilise support for its rally without Pas.
“The rally’s theme (‘Himpunan Rakyat: Sayangi Malaysia, Hapus Kleptokrasi’) was too big for some supporters to understand, especially those in rural areas.”
Federal Territories Gerakan Youth chief Ong Siang Liang said youth were not easily influenced by false information as they were technologically savvy.
He said youth today were more mature and could differentiate real news from the fake.
“Pakatan Harapan cannot convince or sell their products to the youth. Youth today are tech savvy and can verify information from the opposition.
“They know how to find the truth. Youth are silent now because they want to see what politicians will do for the country.”