Melaka’s first-time voters want jobs, opportunities and honest leaders

In Melaka, the eagerness of first-time voters to finally have their say is as infectious as their expectations are diverse.

Some have even taken the time to research the candidates, while others already have their wish lists.

Their demands vary — from jobs and educational opportunities to avenues for social interaction and recreation, as well as activities that foster unity.

Above all, they want their assemblymen to work for them. In that respect, at least, they share the same hopes and expectations as their parents.

For 18-year-old Nurul Atika, who will finally have a say in deciding who leads her state, the enthusiasm is hard to miss.

And she is not leaving her choice to chance. “I plan to research the candidates and talk to friends who know them before I make my choice,” she told FMT.

“I am looking for someone who can unite (diverse) communities,” she said.

Nurul also hopes the next elected representative will organise more activities to bring residents, particularly women, together.

For a matriculation student who wished to be known as Hanini, the election is also about whether she can build a future in Melaka rather than having to move to Kuala Lumpur.

“The government should create more jobs here so that young people don’t have to go to Kuala Lumpur to find work. Travelling by bus also costs money,” she pointed out.

Asked what qualities she wanted in a candidate, Hanini said: “Someone who is honest, responsible and keeps their promises.”

Promises made, promises broken

As expected, not all first-time voters share the same enthusiasm for politics.

Zainal, 18, said he had little interest in the election because politicians often failed to deliver on their promises.

“They need to keep the promises made during elections. Otherwise, how can we trust them?” he said.

Tham, 18, was equally indifferent, preferring to concentrate on his studies and his ambition of becoming a financial consultant.

“When politicians start to keep their promises, they will have my ear,” he said.

For 19-year-old Arumugam, education is a bigger concern than politics.

He hopes the next state government will expand access to education, particularly for young people who struggle to secure places in colleges.

“There are colleges here, but the new state government needs to do more. They need to find out who needs help and ensure they get a place in college,” he said.

Young voters want more jobs

For other young voters, the election is not just about jobs and education, but also about having more places to go and activities to keep them engaged.

In Duyong, first-time voter Iman, 18, said she was excited about voting but wanted more places where young people could spend time together.

Although Duyong had developed over the years, she felt there were still too few recreational options for young people.

“There are many food outlets. Maybe we want more places where we can shop for clothes and engage in social activities. There are some places, but not many,” she said.

Iman also wants better school facilities, including upgraded classrooms, as well as more opportunities for young people to meet and exchange views on their daily lives and government policies.

She said she would support a hardworking candidate who had already contributed to the community.

Afrina, 18, shared similar concerns, saying she wanted a candidate who could bring different communities together through various activities.

“After studies, sometimes there is nothing much to do,” she said.

University student Fikri said that while Melaka already had much to offer, the next state government should organise more activities to bring young people together and foster closer ties among different communities.

Melaka has 687,697 registered voters for Saturday’s state election, up from 495,195 in 2021. Electoral reform group Tindak Malaysia estimates that 35.3% of the 192,502 additional voters are aged below 30.

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