More youth taking ownership of Malaysia's future

By Stephanie Sta Maria - Free Malaysia Today

KUALA LUMPUR: More youth are gradually stepping forward as torch bearers of the country's future. One sign of this was at the Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia's (SABM) first anniversary event yesterday. According to SABM's core group member, Haris Ibrahim, the non-partisan movement is more youth-driven than when it was launched last September. The youth made up almost half of the 70-odd crowd and also dominated the speeches and performances.

“SABM attracted the oldies back when it was first launched,” Haris recalled with a laugh. “But I think the baton is being passed on to the younger generation.”

He explained that SABM's interaction with the youth revealed that they were not disenchanted with Malaysia but simply with its brand of politics.

“They were initially very cynical of SABM's message of One People, One Nation,” he said. “But they evevntually realised that we old fogeys are equally disenchanted and very sorry for the state in which we've left the country for them. So they have now come on board to help us take our message forward.”

'Change inevitable'
PJ Utara MP Tony Pua, who was there with his young daughter, expressed surprise at the youthful crowd gathered there.

“These are the faces you would expect to see in a trendy mall, not in a politically aware crowd,” he said. “So it was a very pleasant surprise and it just goes to show that the youth are preparing themselves to own their country.”

“We are more globalised today,” he added. “And change is inevitable. But it's the speed of change that is questionable.”

According to Haris, SABM's next initiative is to take its message to more youth and also the older generation in the hinterland.

As a start, SABM invited political parties from both sides of the divide to engage in a dialogue to see if they would open up their networks to help it get its message across.

“We received a response from Pakatan Rakyat, Parti Socialis Malaysia and Human Rights Party,” Haris said. “We heard nothing from BN so we assume that it believes the 1Malaysia concept is sufficient. But we're ready to work with political parties because this is the shortest way towards unity.”