Senator muda, had penggal Ahli Parlimen: Ruang cabar dominasi veteran

Analysts view proposed lowering the eligibility age for senators to 25 years old and limiting the number of consecutive terms for Malay Members of Parliament as positive developments for national politics. (Parliament of Malaysia image) Petaling Jaya: The proposal to reduce the eligibility age for senators to 25 and limit the number of consecutive terms for Malay Members of Parliament opens opportunities for younger generations to challenge the dominance of veteran leaders in politics, according to analysts.

Mazlan Ali from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia stated that the proposal, which will be presented to the Cabinet, shows the government's seriousness towards the agenda of youth empowerment and political reform. He added that the move not only boosts youth participation but also prevents overly long dominance of individuals within the legislative body.

At least, this reform would open up a broader space for younger generations to engage in the legislative body, which has historically been dominated by veteran generations, according to Mazlan, speaking to FMT. He discussed statements made by Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari, who said he would bring the two proposals to the Cabinet in the near future to strengthen youth representation in the House of Representatives and strengthen political renewal.

The two proposals were among those raised at the National Youth Consultative Forum (MPBN), the government's highest-level forum for youth to express their views, aspirations, and recommendations related to development. Mazlan further noted that while 25 years may seem like an inexperienced age, it should not be seen as a lack of capability to acquire knowledge and experience promptly compared to previous generations.

In the fast-paced digital age, younger generations have the opportunity to gain knowledge and experience faster than previous generations, he said. Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri from Global Asia Consulting suggested that the selection process needs to be reviewed to ensure appointments are made based on merit and ability if the eligibility age for senators is lowered to 25.

He emphasized that just replacing old faces with young faces is not enough; the politics cannot remain the same. Younger candidates need to bring something new to Parliament, he said. He added that younger generations have the potential to bring a fresh perspective on issues such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, future work, technology, and climate change.

However, he cautioned that political reform should not be seen as merely replacing long-standing leaders with younger generations. Malaysia does not need just young people to look modern; Malaysia needs young people who can make decisions. This is the difference between giving space to the younger generation and using the younger generation as political decoration, he said.

Regarding proposals to limit the tenure of Malay Members of Parliament, Zaharuddin suggested the move could reduce political parties' reliance on certain individuals. He noted that someone who has been in politics for too long can build a strong power network, but it can also slow down the emergence of new leaders. Political reform is not about replacing the older generation with the younger generation. It's about ensuring every generation has a chance based on ability, he said.