MALAYSIA’S young people today want to see politicians focusing on the people’s wellbeing instead of bickering over who gets to hold on to power, youth movement Challenger said.

The group is one of three behind the recent Parlimen Digital initiative.

“All we see now is power struggle between individuals. It is not good for the nation and for the youth especially,” said Challenger secretary-general Jean Vaneisha.

“Where is the rakyat, do we come into the picture? Where is the focus on the people?

“What is the government’s policy on how to fix our economy or on our healthcare system.

“The opposition on the other hand should have a shadow cabinet,” she said.

The Perikatan Nasional government, which ousted Pakatan Harapan from power late February, has seen Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin try to secure his slim majority in Parliament by offering posts in government-linked entities to allied MPs in Barisan Nasional and PAS.

Meanwhile, he has been facing pressure from Umno to not demand too much for his party Bersatu in seat negotiations for a possible snap general election.

On the other side of the political spectrum, PH has been embroiled in public disagreements over who it will select to lead the coalition into an election and become prime minister candidate, should it win the vote.

Challenger – formed in 2015 and describes itself as a “youth lobbyist group that advocates checks and balances, rule of law, freedom of speech and youth-related issues” – recently issued a statement urging political leaders to press the “reset button”.

“The Malaysian people witnessed a nefarious pollution of our democratic institutions by Perikatan Nasional’s grab for power.

“Our leaders have gone on to pass laws without parliamentary debate, acquit high-profile individuals accused of bribery and corruption without trial (and) dismissed capable leaders from GLCs,” Challenger’s statement said, referring to recent events.

These include Parliament’s first session of the year on May 18 under Muhyiddin’s government, which was only held for two-hours to hear the Royal Address, prompting criticism that his government was trying to avoid parliamentary oversight of Perikatan’s actions and of the government’s billion-ringgit economic stimulus package against Covid-19.

Since Perikatan Nasional seized control, prosecutors have dropped corruption cases against high profile individuals such as Najib Razak’s stepson Riza Aziz and former Sabah chief minister Musa Aman.

“Even within Pakatan Harapan (there) have (been) endless, exhausting power disputes over the candidacy for prime minister. All these issues are systemic problems and old politics,” Challenger’s statement said.

Vaneisha said the group was formed three years before 2018 when the 14th general election was held.

Former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, the ex-Bersatu Youth chief who has been removed from the party for supporting Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was instrumental in Challenger’s formation.

“He was behind the creation of Challenger,” Vaneisha said.

At the time of the group’s founding, she said it focused on anti-corruption messages and was part of the drive to oust Najib Razak as prime minister.

The Barisan Nasional government lost federal power in the 2018 elections for the first time since independence.

“We were trying to let the youth in this country know their rights. We focused on removing corruption.

“Now we aim to empower youths and to champion youth issues.”

Challenger has 40 members at the moment, aged 18 to 30, she said.

“Our numbers are growing,” Vaneisha added, but declined to comment on the police controversy involving Parlimen Digital.

She did say the youth groups that organised the initiative managed to collect “brilliant ideas” and will continue to raise issues that concern Malaysia’s youths, as well as create a “national narrative” to inspire and empower young voters.

Challenger and two other youth groups, Undi18 and Liga Demokratik Malaysia, jointly organised Parlimen Digital, a two-day simulation of parliamentary proceedings with 222 youths taking on the role of elected representatives to raise and debate issues.

The event was held online to show that it is possible to hold a virtual parliament session, despite politicians’ reticence to do so

The organisers said several participants were summoned by police to give formal statements at police stations or for casual chats.

Organisers urged police to stop harassing participants and to speak to the organising team directly instead.

They said police officers wanted to know the initiative’s political stance, which they insisted was neutral.

However, Inspector-General of Police denied officers had been calling participants because no official investigation had been authorised.

Nevertheless, Parlimen Digital organisers have insisted several participants were indeed called up and questioned. – July 12, 2020.