Fragmented Youths, the Product of Politics?

By Kurniawati Kamarudin KUALA LUMPUR, May 2 (Bernama) -- Boisterous youths on motorcycles parading the flags of the political parties are a common sight in many parts of the country indicating their active engagement in the 13th General Election (GE13). Similar to the previous elections, the services and the contributions of these youths are very much sought after by political parties especially in putting up posters and making up the crowd at campaign rallies. There were also incidences where youths were made use by unscrupulous groups to create trouble or provoke target groups. Youths, in GE13, are seen as an influential group and their political voices can be heard through the blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and even Youtube. The new media is not only a lifestyle statement, but also a statement of their political leanings. Youths, being full with vigour and vitality, are quick to respond to issues and matters raised by both sides of the divide. Being IT savy, many of these youths are being recruited by political parties as cyber-troopers. However, in their excitement to voice out or defend their political stand, they compromise on their mannerism and noble values. Worst still, their political leanings can lead to fragmentation within youths. HOW DOES POLITIC INFLUENCE THE YOUTHS? With a mind that is yet to fully mature, most youths' political inclinations are very much influenced by their education and their family background. A political analyst, Associate Professor Dr Samsul Adabi Mamat, said due to their 'vulnerabilities', youths easily become the political tool for extending the political influence and support of the political parties. This is particularly evident in the public higher education institutions where the youths are divided between National Front or Barisan Nasional (BN) and opposition camps, a microcosm of the political divide outside campus. "There is both the positive and negative implications...with the negative overwhelming and the youths end up fragmented. Each side will go all out to defend their group. They are taught to criticise, run down the other, incite hatred and defame the other group and this is how they lose their respect and noble values," he told Bernama. ESTABLISHING POLITICAL MATURITY THROUGH EDUCATION Education, starting from pre-school right to secondary-school, is seen as the key in establishing political maturity in the younger generation by inculcating patriotism and love for the country. Nevertheless, there are parties that inculcate their ideologies right from the pre-school level leading to the existence of two schools of thought that complicate the country's political scene. "There are now two streams at the pre-school level. One is Kemas (Community Development Department) kindergartens operated by the government, and the other the PASTI (Islamic teaching) kindergartens that not only provide Islamic education but also inculcate ideologies of a political party. "Their political ideology incites hatred...they are indoctrinated since young. This will further complicate the country's politics," he said. And when they have been indoctrinated from young, they are quick to point fingers at others like what is seen in the younger generation today. Therefore if one side did something good, they would still get rebuked regardless, he said adding that this attitude is very dangerous as it could stunt the nation's future growth and development. "They get divided based on the education they receive. For example those from the Islamic education stream show their allegiance towards Islamic parties, while those from the national type schools are often less inclined towards politics and their political leaning is decided by the family background," he said. THE IMPACT ON THE NATION Such indoctrination has created a generation that is not aware of the true spirit of Islam and Islam itself has been politicised. "The government’s tolerant attitude is responsible for this. The survey done on PASTI kindergartens indicate many of the students have been indoctrinated with a particular political party's ideology. And the child will grow up with the Islamic ways of the party that include inciting hatred against one another," he said. This, he said, is something beyond salvage, as the education system is too difficult to change. This is what leads to infighting among Muslims and one Muslim branding the other as an infidel, all due to their political leanings. "This is what is being taught to our children and youngsters... if the education system especially early education is not coordinated at the federal level, children will grow up with a wrong political ideology," he added. AVOID RACIAL SENTIMENTS Despite having achieved independence 56 years ago, racial issues seem to be the trump card for campaigners at any election including GE13. This affects the mindset of the youngsters who take a leaf from their surroundings, said Abdul Ghapa Harun, senior lecturer at National University of Malaysia's History, Politics and Strategy Studies Centre. "In fact Malaysians should behave in a more matured manner and keep away from issues of interest to a particular race during elections. With good educational background of Malaysians today, the tolerance level among the races should be high," he said. Unfortunately, the younger generation follow the mould set by the family, education system, and the people around them. To see a change, politicians, families and societies have to change and forget race related issues that are seen as highly sensitive for a plural nation like Malaysia. -- BERNAMA