Selangor MB urges PH to address real concerns amidst youth voter shift

SELANGOR Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari has called upon the Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition to prioritise identifying and resolving the genuine concerns of the populace rather than merely focusing on social media prowess to attract the increasingly pivotal young voter demographic.

Amirudin pointed out that if PH could effectively address these pressing issues, it would garner the support of the youth irrespective of the platform used to convey its message.

Speaking in response to a call by Undi18, an advocacy group for lowering the voting age, for the government to enhance its communication strategies through platforms like TikTok, Amirudin stressed that the crux of the matter lies not in the medium itself but in the substance of the message delivered.

“It is not a problem with the tools or vehicles used. It is not a matter of TikTok or Instagram.

“Whatever tools we use, if we address the right things, it will draw (the youth’s) attention,” he said after the launching of the digital legacy hub at Istana Puteri Bongsu in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia.

Undi18, in its advocacy efforts, had earlier claimed that PH could potentially reclaim youth support through more effective utilisation of social media, according to news portal Free Malaysia Today.

Moreover, Undi18 advocacy director and co-founder Tharma Pillai stressed the importance of refining PH’s narrative to resonate with the youth and “capture their imagination”.

These calls for strategic narrative refinement come in light of recent findings by the Darul Ehsan Institute indicating that despite PH’s recent victory in the Kuala Kubu Bharu by-election on May 11, the opposition coalition Perikatan Nasional (PN) still enjoys a higher level of support among young voters.

Drawing from his own experience in the opposition prior to PH’s ascent to power in 2008, Amirudin highlighted the significance of comprehending the genuine concerns of the populace.

“The Madani government must now identify these concerns and address the real issues, not just follow (social media trends).

“PH’s think tanks and leaders need to take note of this so that we can address the community’s true issues and concerns.” – May 16, 2024

 

Main photo credit: Malay Mail

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