PUTATAN, May 2 (Bernama) -- Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin Monday expressed regret that most youths in Sabah in the eligible voting age do not exercise their right to vote as they have yet to register as voters.
The State Umno liaison committee secretary said from the feedback gathered from the youths in the party's strongholds, they still held the belief "that voting is the job of the older generation or their parents".
"They are therefore often not too keen to take part in the democratic process of electing their leaders," he said during a community programme in Kampung Tengah Padang, Petagas, near here Monday.
"It is sad that the majority of them seem not to realise the importance of their responsibility to vote," he added.
Yahya who is also Petagas assemblyman, said the youths he meant were those aged 21 to 40, and 70 per cent of the population in Putatan district itself were made up of this group.
"Therefore, there should be concerted efforts to attract the eligible young to vote to ensure the continuation of the party and Barisan Nasional's dominance in Sabah," he said.
According to him, the urban youths were considerably more aware of their role as voters, and the opposition especially DAP, had been successful in recruiting and registering the youths as their members and voters.
"That is why they have managed to win many urban seats in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, because of the support from young voters.
"The government must not ignore this fact and Umno as the backbone of the BN government, has no choice but to give attention to the relatively dormant young voters in the state," said Yahya, who is also State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister.
The party, he stressed, must further strengthen itself by getting closer to the younger generation to listen to their views, while raising awareness among this group of the significance of their voting power.
"This is especially so in areas where UMNO is considered the leading party but the majority of the youths are still not registered as voters. Otherwise, the party's strong influence may diminish and this will allow the opposition to capitalise on it," he said.
The State Umno liaison committee secretary said from the feedback gathered from the youths in the party's strongholds, they still held the belief "that voting is the job of the older generation or their parents".
"They are therefore often not too keen to take part in the democratic process of electing their leaders," he said during a community programme in Kampung Tengah Padang, Petagas, near here Monday.
"It is sad that the majority of them seem not to realise the importance of their responsibility to vote," he added.
Yahya who is also Petagas assemblyman, said the youths he meant were those aged 21 to 40, and 70 per cent of the population in Putatan district itself were made up of this group.
"Therefore, there should be concerted efforts to attract the eligible young to vote to ensure the continuation of the party and Barisan Nasional's dominance in Sabah," he said.
According to him, the urban youths were considerably more aware of their role as voters, and the opposition especially DAP, had been successful in recruiting and registering the youths as their members and voters.
"That is why they have managed to win many urban seats in Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia, because of the support from young voters.
"The government must not ignore this fact and Umno as the backbone of the BN government, has no choice but to give attention to the relatively dormant young voters in the state," said Yahya, who is also State Agriculture and Food Industry Minister.
The party, he stressed, must further strengthen itself by getting closer to the younger generation to listen to their views, while raising awareness among this group of the significance of their voting power.
"This is especially so in areas where UMNO is considered the leading party but the majority of the youths are still not registered as voters. Otherwise, the party's strong influence may diminish and this will allow the opposition to capitalise on it," he said.
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