LETTERS: Twitter and Facebook provide avenues for youth to find their collective voice in championing issues and spreading awareness on topics specific to their demographic.
Youth movements in Malaysia have been taking advantage of social media to galvanise support as well as create exposure on issues relating to their generation.
A prominent example is Undi18, a youth-led movement that led to the lowering of the minimum voting age to 18.
The constitutional amendment should motivate youth to be more politically conscious and savvy as they now have the power to vote for the nation's future.
With the lowering of the voting age, youth can be kingmakers, as there are now an estimated four million automatically registered new voters.
EMIR Research previously published an article titled "Utilise civic tech to enhance citizen engagement in Malaysia" highlighting the importance of using civic tech to empower citizens in engaging societal change.
Civic tech should be adopted to allow youth to become an integral part of the policy and decision-making processes, beyond just submitting ideas for the annual budget, but in all areas of policy formulation and implementation.
We already have the fledgling Youth Parliament, established in 2020 as the world's first Digital Parliament and powered by Microsoft — embodying the multi-chrome character of the nation.
The youth must be empowered to be at the forefront of policy-making and analysis through digital platforms such as:
THE real-time dashboard for the Economic Stimulus Implementation and Coordination Unit Between National Agencies (Laksana) with an interfaced repository;
USING the MyGovernment Portal (www.malaysia.gov.my), the single gateway to all government online services revolving around the life-cycle needs of citizens; and,
THE Malaysian Open Data initiative at www.data.gov.my.
Towards this end, a digital "coordinator" entity for youth participation in the public policy process should be set up under the Prime Minister's Department to manage and coordinate feedback and participation.
The Public Sector ICT Strategic Plan (2016-2020) should be updated to strengthen and promote government-youth ties, which will in turn feed into the "whole of society" processes on the back of digitalisation.
It needs to be pointed out that the Digital Native Agenda is still lagging, especially in less developed states.
In 2020, Universiti Malaysia Sabah student Veveonah Mosibin had to climb a tree to get Internet connection so she could sit her online exams.
In what should be considered a shocking and deplorable response, Sabah's Assistant Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ruddy Awah said Sabah would need to wait 20 years to enjoy smooth Internet access.
Given the pace of digital progression in Malaysia, a 20-year wait is not something politicians and policymakers should accept or resign themselves to.
Digital marginalisation, which particularly affects the youth, will negatively affect plans to digitalise rural-based activities, such as using smart farming and green and renewable technologies, such as solar farming.
It is detrimental to efforts to achieve self-sustainability in food and energy security amid an increasingly uncertain and volatile world.
Digital platforms are a crucial medium to spur youth empowerment in Malaysia — politically and economically.
Equipping the younger generation with the skills and know-how to navigate the digital age is imperative in Malaysia's efforts to embrace digitalisation and the digital economy.
JASON LOH SEONG WEI
ROSIHIN ADDIN
EMIR Research
Kuala Lumpur
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times