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Undi 18 is a huge step forward; one that will remould the political landscape of Malaysia forever. The question is whether this change will improve or stifle our nation’s progress?

This change means youth as young as 18 years old can now vote and qualify to be a federal lawmaker (MP) or state lawmaker (ADUN). Newly-eligible voters will also be automatically registered. This new legislation is predicted to add 7.8 million voters by the next general election in 2023, making the total number of voters a whopping 22.7 million – a drastic jump from 14.9 million in 2018.

The growth in Malaysia’s electorate has received feedback from both ends of the spectrum. Some parties are concerned that the youth is not ready to make decisions that will bear such substantial consequences to the state, others have more faith that age will not alter the decisions that are made when voting.

Deputy Minister of Defence, Liew Chin Tong wrote an opinion piece for the NST in which he highlighted some of the reasons why Undi 18 is going to be beneficial for the Malaysian political sphere, including no more “fixed deposits” (hardcore voters who vote blindly),  improvements in public policy formulation, recognition that we are quite urban, and a roaring sayonara to racial politics.

To expand on these reasons, he explained that with such a vast electorate, politics will now be about swing votes because parties can no longer hope to have a “huge hardcore voting base which votes blindly for us.” Therefore, it enhances the robustness of our political system by ensuring parties are engaging with voters properly and ensuring that their campaigns are effective.

According to Liew, better public policy formulation will take place because political parties will need to have proper discussions about different issues like the job market, healthcare, education, and security. Economic incentives in exchange for votes will not work with such a broad electorate. More importantly, a large voter base means that parties need to look beyond just public policy, and instead focus on an extensive range of areas to ensure that they are catering to the broader demographic that is now included.

He also highlighted how the inclusion of a younger demographic will see a movement away from old political practices. “Many of our debates and public policy assumptions are outdated,” Liew said. A new generation of voters who have been exposed to online media will approach politics with a more urbanised attitude that will see through and condemn outdated approaches to social issues. The racial underpinnings of many of these approaches will also be out of the picture now.

Liew’s optimism about the good that Undi 18 will bring to Malaysia’s progress is one that most people agree with. However, is our youth ready to handle the responsibility that comes with access to a ballot paper?

Zan Azlee wrote about how we need to “create a safe space so Undi 18 will work” for Malaysiakini. Having spent a few years studying in a school in New York, he credits his experience in a social studies class for broadening his perspective on the world. There were discussions about introducing lessons on voting basics into the curriculum. However, Azlee believes that this approach might not necessarily be the way to get Undi 18 to work more effectively.

The present challenge is that most of our youth remain unaware of current affairs, especially those occurring outside of Malaysia. We are also less able to express our opinions, engage in proper discussions, and have debates over various topics. It is essential to think for oneself and be critical about all that is going on around us. With that comes a level of social responsibility. Azlee credits his social studies class for equipping him with this. That social responsibility translates into a desire to vote, a desire to create change, and an awareness that each of us can do exactly that.

Lessons on voting might help with understanding how the process of voting works, but it does not address the challenge of ensuring voters come to the ballot box. It also runs the risk of getting too political. Azlee argues instead that with lessons like social studies, students get to read the newspaper and discuss the events they read about. Doing so can spark great insight that will help our youth think more critically about policies and wider societal issues, question what is right or wrong, and decide what their stance is through voting.

By the next election in 2023, students as young as those aged 14 years old this year will be eligible to vote. Education reform will be necessary; one that works along the lines of Azlee’s proposal of social studies. Giving our younger generation the ability to vote is the first step, and a great one at that. Yet, if our youth does not realise or appreciate the value that comes with this ability, then it is an opportunity that will be wasted.