KUALA LUMPUR: The 15th General Election (GE15) looks set to see a record number of voters, boosted by the passing of the landmark Undi18 initiative, which has not only lowered the voting age from 21 to 18, but also led to all citizens aged above 18 being automatically registered as voters.
With more than 21.1 million people — of which 1.4 million are aged between 18 to 20 — now able to cast their votes, observers believe that this has drastically changed the political landscape, placing the power firmly in the hands of the youth.
The majority of these first-time voters told the New Straits Times that they would be relying on manifestos by political parties to see what resonated with them.
Sofiah Elisha, 21, from Subang Jaya, Selangor, said she had begun her "research" ahead of polling day by studying the news and various party manifestos.
She said the Covid-19 pandemic had underscored the importance of political stability as it directly affected the people's wellbeing.
"From this, I believe that to earn my vote, these parties need to prove that they're not just all talk and no action. They need a solid, detailed plan on how they will lead the country and strengthen the economy," she said.
Sofiah said she would be keen on a party that advocated for youth participation in politics.
"That's really important for me because at the end of the day, the younger generation is the one that would be impacted by today's policies."
She added that she would not be accepting these manifestos blindly, and would be fact-checking to see if there were contradictions on what the politicians had spoken about before.
"I've also started having political discussions with my family and peers to get a more varied opinion on who to vote for. But, of course, at the end of the day, I make my own judgment on who deserves my vote".
Caroline Gan Jinq Yen, from Sungai Buloh, Selangor, said she would study the manifestos to see which party could offer solid plans to help the people, especially in tough times.
"I'm keen to see which parties are committed to change, even if a decision does not align with their older beliefs.
"This will indicate to me an acceptance of bigger changes that can improve the people's lives instead of making empty promises," said the 22-year-old.
"This would also include new offers in line with those actions. In short, I will be taking into account their actions throughout the years to determine where my vote goes," she said.
First-time voter Amir Ahlan Nasution Kamal said he would also be assessing the manifestos closely.
The 29-year-old said he would make his decision based on what a party was offering, instead of the candidate.
"I believe that it is ultimately down to what the party can offer in order to effect proper change in policies such as the economy, education and others," he said.
Stephen Yap, from Klang, said election manifestos would be more useful to him than merely listening to a candidate's election pledges.
He also cautioned political parties against making populist promises, saying that their pledges should be realistic.
"The fact is that we need to look at the bigger picture. A candidate can promise many things but ultimately, it is the party in power which shapes the direction and policy.
"There's also no point in promising the moon if you can't fulfil your pledges. Voters aren't stupid, they'll know what's realistic and what isn't," said the 22-year-old.