Klang MP Charles Santiago also named two other issues which could lead to youth spurning the ruling coalition: wages and employment opportunities.

He said low wages and graduates’ inability to pay back the PTPTN study loans could become a “major source of discontentment among young people”, leading them to vote for the opposition at the next general election.

“These three things have to be resolved by PH before going to the polls,” he told reporters after speaking at a forum here.

He said Putrajaya must engage the youth in a “meaningful way”.

He said the government should also improve its engagement with youth through the social media, adding that a recent survey revealed that Malaysian youth spend at least 14 hours a day on social media.

He said both Umno and PAS were active on social media, and cited former prime minister Najib Razak’s “Bossku” tagline.

Santiago said the opposition was better at social media engagement.

“They are doing better at reaching out than we are because our guys who were active on social media are now in government and have no time for social media.”

On July 16, Dewan Rakyat passed a historic bill to amend the Federal Constitution, allowing 18-year-olds to vote and stand as candidates.