DR Mahathir Mohamad is no ordinary politician. He’s seen it. He’s done it. An old guard with a lifetime of political experience.

When he recently claimed that Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s youth-centric party would not succeed, many took on the social media to echo his statement. Many saw it as an act of belittling Syed Saddiq’s move and, hence, taking Dr Mahathir out of the equation among the new youth party’s supporters.

My say? Its the opposite. Dr Mahathir, being the guile politician that he is, has always issued statements with double meaning. 

What I saw was a move by Dr Mahathir to make other parties rest on their laurels and look down upon the threat of the new youth party. 

It was also a move to dissuade many who are of the opinion that Dr Mahathir is, in fact, funding and supporting Syed Saddiq’s effort.

And, at the same time, Dr Mahathir hopes to spur the rebel inside young hearts to prove him wrong. He wants the youth to support Syed Saddiq. He wants Syed Saddiq’s party to do well. And, he wants it to break the youth vote to ensure that his Pejuang party becomes the kingmaker in the next general election.

It is never what it seems, especially not with Dr Mahathir.

While I am all for the youth, I don’t see the necessity of setting up a whole new political party exclusively for youth. Politics should not be compartmentalised. It should not be pigeonholed. It must not be based on gender nor age.

What our politics need is synergy. A dynamic, organic combination of youth and veterans. The youth need the elders as much as the elders need the youth. The veterans as the guiding compass based on their wealth of experience and the youth with their ideas, exuberance and energy.

That is the very reason I decided to run for the exco position in Umno’s Johor Baru division, instead of vying for a place in the division’s Youth wing. I wanted a more youthful representation in the division, which typically consists of veterans. 

Looking at how Umno lost the last general election, I felt the need for rejuvenation and decided to venture on a road less travelled. And, to my delight, many other youths followed suit and we were overwhelmingly elected. While there were sceptics, as there will always be, Johor Baru Umno division chief Shahrir Samad was ever so accomodating. He was hopeful and supportive of the youth’s participation, ideas and contribution.

However, it does not stop there. Facelifting of the country’s oldest political party is a long process. It needs stamina, perseverance and strong will. 

A youthful rejuvenation of Malaysian politics must no longer comprise of cliches and rhetoric. It must not be uttered words with no implementation. It must be manifested in trusting the youth to be electoral candidates.

We are not trying to be the Trudeaus, Macrons or Arderns of Malaysia. We are not trying to take over the country and belittle the roles of the elders. What we want is participation, representation and a voice that is heard from the North to South, East to West of the country.

However, the youth must not feel entitled. A candidacy in the next general election is not an entitlement due simply to the age factor. Instead, it must be upon merit, ability and winnability. Being an MP or assemblymen needs acuteness in diplomacy, astute handling of various issues and shrewd task-delegation skills. 

The youth have been very vocal about being given the trust and opportunity to be considered possible candidates. With under-40 voters for GE15 to make up more than 50%, it is high time that more youths be passed the baton.

Of the 222 parliamentary seats contested in GE14, only 15 were by those below 40 years old. We hope to see this number grow substantially in the next general election.

Should the faith be given, it must never be betrayed. The youth have to rise to the occasion and prove that we are, in fact, capable of taking care of the nation and carrying out our duties. Not with mere ideals and rhetoric, but with perseverance and wholehearted willingness.

Youths are no longer leaders of tomorrow. Their time has come. They are the leaders of today. We are not threats. We are the continuance. – September 4, 2020. 

* Faiz Banafe is Umno Johor Baru division committee member.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.