By Phillip Das
There is something about Malaysian politics that I have always wondered about. We talk about change. We talk about new ideas, a new Malaysia and giving the younger generation a greater voice in the country’s future.
Yet when election time comes, we often seem to go back to the same familiar faces. Perhaps we should ask ourselves why.
The recent Johor and Negeri Sembilan state polls illustrate the pattern clearly.
In Johor, 172 candidates contested 56 seats. Only nine were under 30, while 27 were over 60. Negeri Sembilan showed a similar picture: of 103 candidates, just three were under 30, while 16 were 60 and above. The youngest was 23; the oldest, 70.
Age alone does not determine quality. Experience matters, and younger leaders can learn much from seasoned politicians. But the figures raise a pressing question: where is the next generation? And are we, as voters, part of the reason they are absent?
We know the familiar candidate — his name, his record, his connections. A newcomer, by contrast, arrives with little history, fewer resources and limited recognition. Faced with uncertainty, voters often retreat to familiarity. And so the cycle repeats.
Elsewhere in Asia, younger voices are finding space. Thailand’s current legislature began with nearly 30 per cent of members aged 40 or below. Indonesia too has seen younger entrants, even if older generations remain dominant. Malaysia need not copy its neighbours, but their example reminds us that political experience need not always come with age.
This is not an argument for older politicians to retire. Experience has value. But it should not be a permanent ticket to remain in office. At some point, every generation must make room for the next. Parties should identify capable young leaders early, give them opportunities to serve and build trust with communities. Voters, meanwhile, must be willing to look beyond familiarity.
Youth alone is not enough. Young candidates must still demonstrate character, integrity, ideas and a genuine desire to serve. But the opportunity must exist. Imagine experienced politicians mentoring younger colleagues — sharing lessons of governance and community, while younger leaders bring fresh perspectives on technology, environment and the economy. That is not replacement, but succession.
The younger generation will live longest with the consequences of today’s decisions — the economy, education, debt, environment and institutions we leave behind. Shouldn’t they have a greater role in shaping them?
The issue is not old versus young, but continuity versus renewal. We need experience to guide us, and new thinking to move us forward. A country cannot keep looking backwards while expecting its future to be different.
So when we see the familiar name on the ballot, we should ask: is familiarity enough? Or are we preparing leaders who will be ready when today’s generation is gone? Every generation eventually has its time. The question is whether we are giving the next one enough room to find theirs.
Politics should not only be about who leads us today. It must also be about who will be ready to lead us tomorrow.
WE