Aneesa Nizam, 20, is perhaps in Wales, Britain, however she’s on the ball concerning the upcoming fifteenth General Election (GE).
From Kuala Lumpur, Aneesa is amongst hundreds of Malaysians registered as postal voters. The first-time voter is worked up about exercising her proper to vote regardless that it is by way of a postal poll.
She additionally encourages youths to attend as many political talks as potential earlier than polling day. This will assist voters to be higher knowledgeable concerning the insurance policies that the occasion stands for, mentioned the final-year regulation scholar at Cardiff University.
Aneesa says social media is an efficient platform for first-time voters to know extra concerning the political scenario in Malaysia. Photos: Aneesa Nizam“That is likely one of the different methods a voter can know extra concerning the candidate and have a look at what (she or he) provides. Voters can even interact extra with the one who will run for workplace as a result of members of parliament ought to be held accountable by the residents,” mentioned Aneesa by way of e mail.
Aneesa, who has been dwelling in Wales for two months, had the chance to attend a number of political campaigns in the course of the Johor state election final March.
“During the Johor elections in March, I volunteered to assist in a political occasion’s marketing campaign path. As a outcome, I had hands-on expertise serving to the candidates marketing campaign of their constituencies.
“It was a memorable expertise, particularly the campaigning interval and preserving observe of the election outcomes. I do miss being in Malaysia throughout GE15,” mentioned Aneesa, who plans to watch the election outcomes together with her Malaysian varsity mates on Nov 19.
Kuala Lumpur-based scholar Isra Daniel Gomez, 19, additionally believes in the advantages of attending ceramahs. The first-time voter thinks Malaysians should go for such occasions as a result of it helps them perceive the candidates higher.
Gomez hopes GE15 will pave the way in which for extra progress in our nation. Photo: Isra Daniel Gomez
“It’s one factor to pay attention to their speeches on display screen, nevertheless it’s very completely different if you find yourself there face to face. For me, everytime I attend talks, there’s this small feeling of pleasure from the truth that I’m listening to and seeing politicians discuss,” mentioned Gomez, who’s finding out Foundation in Law at a non-public faculty in Petaling Jaya.
Over 21.1 million Malaysians will likely be eligible to vote in GE15. This is a rise of greater than six million voters in contrast to GE14 in 2018 when there have been 14.9 million registered voters.
According to the Election Commission, almost 1.4 million registered voters in GE15 are aged between 18 and 20. The rise in eligible voters is due to the Undi18 constitutional modification gazetted final yr, which lowered the minimal voting age from 21 to 18.
Even although Aneesa’s hundreds of miles away from dwelling, she is doing her bit to guarantee Malaysian college students in Wales can solid their votes by way of postal voting.
She is a part of the United Kingdom and Eire (Ireland) Council for Malaysian Students (UKEC), a accomplice of VoteMalaysia – a coalition of youth organisations world wide that’s finishing up a world assortment drive for abroad postal voters for GE15.
“We have been coordinating the logistics for the ballots to be despatched again to Malaysia. I’m additionally aiding with postal registration and primarily educating college students on the significance of voting,” mentioned Aneesa.
Meanwhile, she continues to preserve herself posted on the newest developments.
Aneesa (left) and her varsity mates are doing their bit to guarantee Malaysian college students in Wales can solid their votes by way of postal voting.
“Loved ones from Malaysia have been sending me GE15 updates and movies on candidates’ marketing campaign trails. The Internet can also be very informative, particularly for conducting background checks on the candidates in my constituency, which is Titiwangsa,” mentioned Aneesa.
“I additionally suppose social media is an efficient platform for first-time voters to know extra concerning the political scenario in our nation. “However, we should always go past the realm of social media and have a look at every occasion’s manifesto. It is vital to perceive how the occasion creates their insurance policies primarily based on the pursuits of the folks,” mentioned Aneesa.
As GE15 attracts close to, Gomez – who’s the Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) scholar bureau head for Segambut, Kuala Lumpur – has additionally been concerned in getting extra youths to the polls.
“One approach we’re doing that is by way of a sequence known as literasiswa. We educate youths within the primary fundamentals of our democratic system. We clarify to them the duties of a member of parliament (MP) and a state assemblyman. During the marketing campaign interval, we do extra issues to get youths invested on this election,” mentioned Gomez, who has been attending a number of ceramahs along with his mates in the previous few days main up to GE15.
The elder of two siblings, Gomez will likely be voting within the Segambut parliamentary constituency and hopes GE15 will pave the way in which for extra progress in our nation. One of his want is for Malaysians to have freedom of speech.
“This election is essential. In 2020, the folks’s mandate was taken by sure people. Now, voters have the ability to change that. We have the flexibility to select the proper leaders who will put the nation first quite than their pockets.
“I hope the profitable occasion will even take the mandatory steps to abolish Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti. As lengthy because it exists, it’ll all the time create worry amongst college students to be part of politics,” mentioned Gomez, who can also be the content material director for Benar Betul, a youth-led initiative on media literacy.
