Yunazri banking on young voters to spring Tanjung Bidara surprise

Yunazri Mustamiri, a 36-year-old candidate representing Pakatan Harapan (PH), is taking on incumbent assemblyman and Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh in the Tanjung Bidara constituency. Despite acknowledging that the odds are against him, Yunazri is optimistic about his chances due to the involvement of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also PKR president, and other party leaders.

He is targeting younger voters, who make up a significant portion of the constituency's electorate, with the 18-29 age group constituting 31.6% and the 30-39 group at 20.9%.

Yunazri believes that younger candidates have gained traction in recent years, as evidenced by the trend during the last general election. He emphasized that while Ab Rauf has done a commendable job serving the constituency, the appeal of younger candidates should not be overlooked. Ab Rauf, who won Tanjung Bidara in the 2021 state election by a narrow margin of 364 votes, is defending the seat as the Barisan Nasional (BN) seeks another mandate to govern Melaka.

BN chairman Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has stated that Ab Rauf will retain his position as chief minister if the coalition maintains power in the state election.

Ab Rauf argued that voters should prioritize experience and the capacity to address local issues over age when selecting a candidate. He welcomed the participation of younger candidates in politics but stressed that holding an elected office demands more than just enthusiasm. He encouraged young people to take part in elections to gain valuable experience, but he cautioned that they need to have acquired sufficient knowledge and competence to serve effectively.

As the election approaches, Yunazri is banking on the support of young voters and a robust campaign in the coming weeks to give himself a fighting chance against the incumbent.