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Unseat the old and bring in the young

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Former State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Robert Jacob Ridu. Photos: Mohd Alif Noni

ARE younger generations generally less interested than the elders in political activities? Why do they choose not to participate and claim no interest in politics?

Former State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Seri Robert Jacob Ridu acknowledged that there were many young people, particularly those below 30 years old, who were very sceptical about politics due to uncertainties and tumultuous nature in the past few decades.

Datuk Seri Robert Jacob Ridu

Nevertheless, the time has come for youth to play a role in transforming and improving politics in the country.

“Young people must show interest and participate in politics to assure a better future for themselves as well as for generations to come.

“When I look at the leadership in this country, there are many people who are now in their 60s, 70s, or even 80s. Sad to say nevertheless, these groups are the ones who created the political dysfunction in Malaysia.

“If the young people do not come up, you might find these groups of people still there (in politics) for the next two decades,” he warned.

Recalling a time when the world held Malaysia in high esteem, Ridu said the nation’s performance had become rather stagnant in comparison to its neighbours Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The veteran politician said that after “decades of dysfunctions in the nation it’s time for the young people to come in to put an end to these dysfunctions”.

“The people who have created dysfunctions in the national will be there, but we must unseat them and get new people in. When we can reboot the Malaysian polity then we can have a restart.

“If we are not careful in the near future, we will be the sick man of the Southeast Asia — not the tiger that we used to be and what people have been talking about. We will be behind Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand,” Ridu said.

On the establishment of PBB’s new wing for the young, Ridu said it was a good move by the party as it allowed the young people to come in and see how they could play their part.

He advised the younger generation to not be so sceptical about politics and to be careful about oppressed situations.

“I came into politics during the period of Malaysia’s formation, but that was a time where people got very excited about making changes to the nation for a better economy and future for everybody.

“This is the time for the young people to come in, but they must not be so sceptical about politics, and they must be very careful about oppressed situations.

“It is important that they are able to access the situations and know where the truth is because there are a lot of propagandas and theories in the media,” Ridu said.

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