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

Analysts view proposals to lower the eligibility age for senators to 25 years old and limit the number of consecutive terms for Members of Parliament (MPs) as positive developments for Malaysia's political landscape. (Picture: Malaysian Parliament) PETALING JAYA: Proposals to reduce the eligibility age for senators to 25 years and limit the number of consecutive terms for MPs have opened up opportunities for younger individuals to challenge the dominance of veteran leaders in politics, according to analysts.

Mazlan Ali, a researcher from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, stated that the proposal, which will be presented to the Cabinet, demonstrates the government's seriousness towards youth empowerment and political reform. He added that the move not only increases youth participation but also limits the control of individuals who have been in the legislative body for too long.

Specifically, the reform will create more space for the younger generation, which has traditionally been dominated by veteran politicians, he told FMT. Mazlan discussed the statements made by Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari, who said he would bring forward the two proposals to the Cabinet in the near future, to strengthen youth representation in the Dewan Negara (Upper House) and to further modernize politics.

The two proposals emerged from the National Youth Consultative Forum (NYCF) platform, the highest level of government interaction with the youth, where they expressed their opinions, aspirations, and suggestions regarding development. He noted that while 25 years may seem like an inexperienced age, it does not mean that these individuals cannot acquire knowledge and experience quickly, especially in the fast-paced digital age.

In the era of rapid information, the younger generation has the opportunity to acquire knowledge and experience at a faster pace than previous generations, he said. Ahmad Zaharuddin Sani Ahmad Sabri, a researcher from Global Asia Consulting, suggested that the nomination process would need to be improved to ensure that appointments are made based on merit and ability if the eligibility age for senators is lowered to 25 years.

He emphasized that we should not merely replace old faces with new ones, but the politics should still be different. Young senators should bring something new to Parliament, he added. He said that young senators have the potential to bring a fresh perspective on issues such as artificial intelligence, digital economy, future work, technology, and climate change.

However, he noted that political reform should not be seen as a mere replacement of veteran leaders with younger ones. Malaysia does not need young people merely to look modern. Malaysia needs young people who can make decisions, he said. The difference between giving space to the younger generation and using them as political ornaments lies in the fact that the latter merely replaces older generations without providing them with the ability to make decisions, he added.

Regarding proposals to limit the term length for MPs, Zaharuddin argued that such a step could reduce political parties' reliance on certain individuals. He noted that someone who has been in politics for too long can build a powerful network, but this slows down the emergence of new leaders. Political reform is not about replacing the older generation with the younger generation. It is about ensuring that every generation has an equal opportunity based on ability, he said.