Youth the key to Johor’s political future

IT was with good reason that Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein zeroed in on the opposition’s rising youth star Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (pix) on Monday in Muar, Johor.

The Umno vice-president headed down to two of the hottest parliamentary seats in Johor, Pagoh and Muar, which many believe hold the key to Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) chances of tilting the outcome of polls in the state.

There was a stark contrast in the tone used by Hishammuddin at two events he attended the same day.

While his rallying call was less aggressive in Pagoh, the seat contested by former Umno leader Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Hishammuddin’s speech in Muar against the PH candidate there, Syed Saddiq, was a fiery one.

Although the trading of political barbs is normal during campaigning, it raises the question on the necessity for an Umno top gun to speak aggressively against a rookie, whom he had labelled as anak kucing (kitten) and setahun jagung (greenhorn).

While this does not necessarily exhibit fear from the BN camp over the prowess of Syed Saddiq, it does indicate that there was a sense of concern over the influence the opposition coalition has among the youth. The concern is not without basis.

Johor state Election Commission director Shafie Taib in a press conference last month said that 40% of the state’s 1.8 million eligible voters consists of those under the age of 40.

If the large representation of youths at events and ceramahs conducted by PH nationwide previously is anything to go by, it shows that the opposition coalition could find little trouble garnering support from this group. But while such support is evident in urban areas, it does not necessarily reflect the sentiment held by the group in semi-urban and rural areas, especially in Johor.

The now-defunct Pakatan Rakyat managed to make inroads into Johor in the previous election by riding on the Chinese tsunami.

However, the Opposition would need to do more than just bank on Chinese votes if it hopes to conquer Nusajaya, and subsequently Putrajaya. It is a given that a huge chunk of Chinese votes in Johor would go to the Opposition come May 9, like it did in 2013, while older Malay voters would be more inclined to stay with BN. That leaves the younger Malay constituents holding the key to the corridor of power in Johor.

All things said, one wonders why little focus was given by campaigning parties in approaching this group during this vital 11day campaigning period.

Because come polling day, it will be of little surprise if one coalition overtakes the other to the election race finishing line, with the youth holding the checkered flag.