IMAN Research finds gaps in how Chinese youths understand politics and public institutions

A recently published IMAN Research study reveals that Malaysian Chinese youths often grasp political controversies, social media debates, and public concerns without fully comprehending how the system functions and connects to everyday life. The study, titled "Kami Orang Sini Juga: Chinese Youths and Democratic Belonging — The Politics of Pragmatism and Fairness," analyzed interviews with 116 Malaysian Chinese youths aged 18-35 across Peninsular Malaysia.

The findings highlight a gap between following politics and understanding the system, with participants associating national politics primarily with elections, scandals, and issues of race and religion. However, when discussing local matters such as housing, education, wages, and services, they were more precise about problems and desired changes.

The report questions whether young people know how these everyday concerns relate to public institutions and how to make their voices heard. The study finds that civic education, once taught through the Pendidikan Sivik dan Kewarganegaraan subject, is often vague or overlooked, with some participants recalling it being replaced by more important subjects.

To improve understanding, civic lessons should teach how the democratic system works and the importance of voting and representation. The report introduces the "First-to-Door" model, which explains how the first trusted source that shapes political understanding can influence how individuals interpret information later. For some participants, this source is family, while for others, it is social media.

Language also plays a role, with participants deliberately following both Chinese- and Malay-language media to avoid missing different discourses. The researchers caution, however, that consuming news in multiple languages does not necessarily equate to a stronger understanding of politics. The study also distinguishes between political knowledge and political proximity.

Knowledge refers to understanding how institutions work, while proximity refers to direct encounters with political actors and decision-making. A matrix illustrates how these dimensions can overlap without developing together. For example, someone may get involved in a political party without fully understanding government institutions, or follow political developments closely while remaining outside of political organizations.

The report recommends strengthening civic education by moving beyond lessons on structures and electoral procedures to include practical political and media literacy. Students should have opportunities to engage with local issues and understand how government agencies address them.