PAS vice-president Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah raised concerns about emerging political parties focusing on young voters ahead of Malaysia’s 16th general election (GE16). He said these new parties appear to have mapped out constituencies and voter segments, especially youth, and chosen platforms to appeal to them accordingly [1, 2].
Speaking at a PAS meeting in Pengkalan Chepa on June 17, Amar cited the decision of a new party to hold an event in Kijang as an example of such targeted planning. "What they say can easily influence the minds of young voters. This is one of the challenges for Pas. They seem to have identified areas where they believe they have support. They have assessed the political landscape and chosen their platforms accordingly," he said [1, 2].
Young voters now make up about 40 percent of Malaysia’s electorate, making them a crucial demographic. Amar emphasized this when he said, "I am confident, but we must ensure that these voters remain with Pas. I say this because political developments today are difficult to predict. Young voters make up about 40 per cent of the electorate, yet we cannot accurately read their thinking" [1, 2].
He pointed out that the political mindset of young voters has shifted. "The way young people approach politics is different. Their thinking is not the same as before and they do not necessarily make decisions based on ideology. Candidates are also important in influencing their choices. That is why we must engage with them in ways that resonate with them," Amar said [1, 2].
Amar expressed concern that his large majority secured in the 15th general election might not be repeated in GE16 due to these changing political dynamics and the strong competition for youth support [1, 2].
PAS will seek to strengthen its engagement efforts with young voters to maintain backing ahead of the election. GE16 is scheduled for no later than 2028, giving parties time to mobilize support among this key group.
