Youth power: The next election will feature voters even younger than these young adults casting their ballots in a previous general election. — Filepic
THREE years from now could seem a lifetime in this fast-paced world we live in, but 2022 isn’t that far off, especially with our Parliament members passing the Bill for Malaysians aged 18 and above to vote in the next general election.
A 15-year-old kid today will reach that age by then, and that young adult will have the power to dramatically influence political changes. They can also run for MP or state assembly positions by 2023. But most importantly, is the current democratic landscape prepared for such a paradigm shift?
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Wong Chun Wai
Wong Chun Wai began his career as a journalist in Penang, and has served The Star for over 35 years in various capacities and roles. He is now group editorial and corporate affairs adviser to the group, after having served as group managing director/chief executive officer. On The Beat made its debut on Feb 23 1997 and Chun Wai has penned the column weekly without a break, except for the occasional press holiday when the paper was not published. In May 2011, a compilation of selected articles of On The Beat was published as a book and launched in conjunction with his 50th birthday. Chun Wai also comments on current issues in The Star.
